Image communication apparatus wirelessly connectable to other apparatuses, system having the image communication apparatus, and method for controlling the same

ABSTRACT

A wireless mode between a scanner and an image communication apparatus is changed, in response to completion of image transmission from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, completion of print of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, completion of transmission via a communication line connected to the image communication apparatus of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, instructions to stop print of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, instructions to stop transmission via the communication line connected to the image communication apparatus of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, and states of the scanner and the image communication apparatus at a predetermined time and so on. For example, a low power consumption mode and communication mode of Bluetooth communication are switched to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus thatcan be connected wirelessly to other apparatuses, a system having theimage communication apparatus and a method for controlling the same.

2. Related Background Art

In recent years, facsimile apparatuses have come into wide use at home,and particularly, it has been proposed that image data read by adetachable portable scanner is sent to a communication line, and copied.

In addition, it has been proposed that a connection is made between thefacsimile apparatus and the scanner with a wireless line to send andreceive data.

For the above described prior art, the facsimile apparatus is simplyconnected to the scanner by wireless, in which the facsimile apparatusand the scanner are always connected in a one-to-one relationship, anddata can be sent at any time from the scanner to the facsimile apparatusby the operation of the facsimile apparatus. In other words,consideration is not given at all to power consumption of a battery whenthe scanner is driven on the battery.

Therefore, for the above described prior art, impractically powerconsumption increases and scanner's driving time is shortened.

Also, it is not assumed that communication is performed with anyterminal of a plurality of terminals, like Bluetooth or the like thathas been disseminated rapidly in recent years, and so on. Also, methodsof using the function of Bluetooth efficiently have not been studiedyet.

Also, conventionally, a wireless connection cannot be made from thescanner apparatus when the scanner apparatus and the facsimile apparatusare connected by wireless with infrared communication such as IrDA andused. Therefore, inconveniently an operator of the facsimile apparatusmust make a wireless connection, and issue a command to the scannerapparatus after ensuring that the connection has been made.

The above described problems occur not only in the case of wirelessconnection between the facsimile apparatus and the scanner, but also inthe case where an image input/output apparatus such as a scanner andprinter and an information processing apparatus such as a PC isconnected by wireless with IrDA, etc. and used. Since a wirelessconnection cannot be made from the image input/output apparatus,inconveniently the operator of the information processing apparatus mustmake a wireless connection after the operator sets an original in theimage input/output side, and issue a command to the image input/outputapparatus after ensuring that the connection has been made. Also in thecase where the image input/output apparatus receives information offacsimile and E-MAIL via the communication line, existence of newinformation cannot be recognized unless the operator of the informationprocessing apparatus makes a wireless connection and inquires the stateof the image input/output apparatus after confirming the connection.

The above described problems also occur in the case where an imagecommunication apparatuses other than the facsimile apparatus is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption when awireless connection is made to another apparatus such as a scanner.

Also, another object of the present invention is to effectively use afrequency resource when a wireless connection is made to anotherapparatus such as a scanner.

Also, another object of the present invention is to prevent interferenceto communication with another apparatus when a wireless connection ismade to another apparatus such as a scanner.

Also, another object of the present invention is to efficiently usefunctions based on the Bluetooth specification.

Also, another object of the present invention is to change wirelessmodes in optimum timing.

Also, another object of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing examples and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus 201 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a system configuration in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 shows a software hierarchy in the facsimile apparatus 201 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a software hierarchy in an intelligent terminal 202 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an operation when the facsimile apparatus 201 and theintelligent terminal 202 are started up in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 shows a communication operation when an image is transferred byfacsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows an outlined operation of performing control of transfer ofcommands and data between the intelligent terminal 202 and the facsimileapparatus 201, in reception data image transfer procedure in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart when the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 isturned on in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of power on process of aBluetooth control task 409 in the intelligent terminal 202 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a received image upload process of aBluetooth control task 308 in the facsimile apparatus 201 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a received image upload process of theBluetooth control task 409 in intelligent terminal 202 in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure of processof transferring a transmission image in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure of transferredial process for the transmission image in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 shows a procedure of the transmission image data transferprocess in FIGS. 12, 13 and 30 in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram of an operation procedure of process oftransfer of the transmission image in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure of transfer process of theintelligent terminal 202 being a transfer origination in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a procedure of transfer process of thefacsimile apparatus 201 being a transfer destination in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing one example of system configurationsin the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 shows a communication flow of scan data transfer process oftransferring a scanned original from the facsimile apparatus 201 to theintelligent terminal 202 a, in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 shows a brief overview of transfer process of the command anddata between the facsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal202 a in the scan image data transfer process, in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a scan image upload procedure carried outby the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a procedure of scan process carried outby a CPU 101 of the facsimile apparatus 201 in the case where the imageis scanned is response to a scan request from the facsimile apparatus201 in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a scan image upload procedure carried outby the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 a inthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 shows a communication flow in the case where the intelligentterminal 202 b has Piconet with the facsimile apparatus 201 canceled inthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 shows a communication flow when an image processing system isstarted in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 shows a communication flow of scan data transfer process in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a power on process carried out by theBluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 a in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a scan image upload procedure carried outby the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a scan image upload procedure carried outby the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 a inthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 shows a process where the intelligent terminal 202 requeststransition to a Park mode to the facsimile apparatus 201, aftercompletion of redial process, in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 31 shows a process when the transmission image is transferred fromthe intelligent terminal 202 to the facsimile apparatus 201 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 shows an operation unit 108 of the facsimile apparatus 201 inthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart when the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 isturned on in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a received image upload procedure of theBluetooth control task 308 in facsimile apparatus 201 in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 35 shows a communication flow between the intelligent terminal 202and the facsimile apparatus 201 when the power of the intelligentterminal 202 is turned on, in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 shows a communication flow between the facsimile apparatus 201and the intelligent terminal 202 when the operation state of thefacsimile apparatus 201 is changed in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 37 shows a communication flow between the facsimile apparatus 201and the intelligent terminal 202 when state information of theintelligent terminal 202 is changed in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 38 shows a communication flow between the facsimile apparatus 201and the intelligent terminal 202 when the facsimile apparatus 201performs facsimile transmission to a designated destination in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a procedure of power on process carriedout by the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 inthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a procedure of power on process carriedout by the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 inthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a procedure of process carried out by theBluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a procedure of process carried out by theBluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 43 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus FS1 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing the facsimile apparatus FS1 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 45 is a plan view showing an operation panel in main part 4324 ofthe facsimile apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a top view of a cordless hand scanner 430 of the facsimileapparatus FS1 in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 47 is a bottom view showing the cordless hand scanner 430 of thefacsimile apparatus FS1 in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing initialization operation when the powerof the cordless hand scanner 430 is turned on in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating operation for transition of the handscanner 430 to the Park mode of the hand scanner 430 in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing initialization operation of a main part Bin the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 51 shows the structure of a packet exchanged between the cordlesshand scanner 430 and the main part B in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 52 shows an example of the packet in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 53 shows an example of the packet in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 54 is a chart showing a scanner interface initialization procedurein the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 55 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the chart shown inFIG. 54 in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing the operation of warning for no mountingof scanner in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 57 is an interface chart of sheet copy in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing operation of sheet copy in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transition of thecordless hand scanner 430 from the Park mode to the Active mode of thecordless hand scanner 430 in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 60 is a flowchart illustrating operation of performing facsimiletransmission of a sheet original through the operation of the main partB in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 61 shows an interface chart when the image read by the hand scanneris copied through the operation of the main part B in the embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 62 shows a flowchart illustrating an operation when the image readby the hand scanner is copied through the operation of the main part Bin the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 63 is a flowchart showing an operation of performing facsimiletransmission of the image read by the hand scanner through the operationof the main part B in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 64 shows an interface chart when the image read by the hand scanner430 is copied through the operation of the hand scanner 430 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 65 is a flow chart illustrating an operation when the image read bythe hand scanner 430 is copied through the operation of the hand scanner430 in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 66 shows an operation of the operation and a display of the handscanner 430 when the image read by the hand scanner 430 is copiedthrough the operation of the hand scanner 430, in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 67 is a flowchart showing an operation of performing facsimiletransmission of the image read by the hand scanner 430 through theoperation of the hand scanner 430 in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 68 is an operation of the operation and a display representationwhen facsimile transmission of the image read by the hand scanner 430 isperformed through the operation of the hand scanner 430 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 69 shows an operation of the operation and a display representationwhen facsimile transmission of the image read by the hand scanner 430 isperformed through the operation of the hand scanner 430 in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 70 is a flowchart showing an operation of erasing a memory image inthe hand scanner 430 through the operation of the main part B in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 71 is an interface chart showing the relationship among the processof the cordless hand scanner 430, the process of the main part B and thelike as to the operation of erasing the memory image in the hand scanner430 through the operation of the main part B in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 72 shows an operation of the operation and a display representationof the hand scanner 430 when the memory image in the hand scanner 430 iserased through the operation of the main part B in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 73 is a flowchart showing a battery detection operation of the handscanner 430 in the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 74 is a flowchart showing an operation between the facsimileapparatus and the hand scanner in the embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus 201 being oneembodiment of the present invention.

The facsimile apparatus 201 is one example of image formationapparatuses.

In the facsimile apparatus 201, a CPU 101 is a system control unit,which controls the entire facsimile apparatus 201. A ROM 102 stores acontrol program of the CPU 101, an operating system (OS) program, etc.RAM 103 is constituted by a SRAM, etc. and stores program controlvariables, etc. Also, set values, management data for apparatuses andthe like registered by the operator and various kinds of work buffersare also stored in the RAM 103. An image memory 104 is constituted by aDRAM, etc., and accumulates therein image data.

In the above described embodiment, for each control program stored inthe ROM 102, software control of scheduling, task switch and the like isperformed under the management of the OS (operating system) stored inthe ROM 102. An operation unit 108 is constituted by various kinds ofkeys, LEDs, LCDs, etc. and is to perform various input operations by theoperator, display of operation states of the image formation apparatusand the like.

A read control unit 106 reads an original optically by a CS image sensor(contact type image sensor) in a reader unit 107, and subjects imagesignals converted into electrical image data to various kinds of imageprocessing such as binarization process and intermediation process by animage processing control unit to output image data of high definition.Furthermore, the read control unit 106 in the above described embodimentcorresponds to both of sheet read control in which the original is readwhile it is transported and book read control in which the original puton an original glass is scanned.

In a record control unit 113, image data to be recorded in a colorprinter 114 such as a laser beam printer and an inkjet printer issubjected to a various kinds of image processing such as smoothingprocessing and record density correction processing and color correctionby the image processing control unit to convert the image data intoimage data of high definition and output the same to the color printer.

A communication control unit 109 is constituted by a MODEM(modulator/demodulator), a NCU (network control unit), etc. Thecommunication control unit 109 in the above described embodiment isconnected to an analog communication line (PSTN) 203, and performscommunication control in T30 protocol, and line control of call-out andcall-in, etc. for the communication line. Also, a message recordercontrol unit 110 is constituted by a voice IC, a voice record play backcontrol unit, etc., and provides a phone answering function.

A code/decode processing unit 112 performs code/decode processing andscaling processing for image data treated by the image formationapparatus. Also, a resolution conversion processing unit 111 performsresolution conversion processing such as millimeter-inch resolutionconversion of image data. Furthermore, scaling processing for image datacan be performed also in the resolution conversion unit 111. Inaddition, a data conversion unit 105 performs conversion of image datasuch as analysis of page description language (PDL), etc. and CGdevelopment of character data.

A Bluetooth control unit 115 performs communication control ofBluetooth, performs protocol control in accordance with thespecification of Bluetooth, and converts a command from a Bluetoothcontrol task of the CPU into a packet to send the same to a Bluetoothbaseband processing unit 116, and in contrast thereto, sends a packet asa command from the Bluetooth baseband processing unit 116 to the CPU.

The Bluetooth baseband processing unit 116 performs frequency hoppingprocessing of Bluetooth and processing of assembly/decomposition offrames. Also, a 2.4 GHz high frequency unit 117 is provided therein forsending and receiving radio waves.

An extension slot 118 is a slot for inserting option boards in thefacsimile apparatus 201 as the image formation apparatus, and allows avarious kinds of option boards such as a extended image memory, a SCSIinterface board and a video interface board to be mounted.

FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of the above described embodiment.

In this system, the facsimile apparatus 201, an intelligent terminal 202such as a PC (personal computer), a communication line 203 such as aPSTN and an opposition terminal 204 are provided.

The facsimile apparatus 201, which is connected to the communicationline 203, can perform facsimile communication, and can also be connectedto the intelligent terminal 202 wirelessly. Also, in the above describedembodiment, since the wireless part is defined as Bluetooth, the sendingand receiving of images and the exchange of data and programs with theintelligent terminal 202 can be performed if a unit for Bluetoothcommunication is included in the intelligent terminal 202, or the unitfor Bluetooth communication is connected to the intelligent terminal202.

In addition, in the above described embodiment, for example, the imageformation apparatus such as a multifunction apparatus having scanner andprinter functions may be provided in place of the facsimile apparatus201, or another image formation apparatus such as an E-MAIL terminalhaving scanner and printer functions may be provided.

FIG. 3 is a software hierarchy in the facsimile apparatus 201.

A scanner control task 301, a printer control task 302, a facsimilecontrol task 303, an MMI (man/machine interface) control task 304 and aphone control task 305 are control tasks of the top layer of thefacsimile apparatus 201, and perform device control and control of useroperation ports of the facsimile.

A job control task 306 analyzes and allocates jobs from an event controltask 307 representing a lower layer for queuing them in the abovedescribed control tasks of the top layer.

The event control task 307 analyzes an event received from the lowerBluetooth control task for queuing commands for corresponding to controltasks.

In a Bluetooth control task 308, when information to be sent to theintelligent terminal 202 is received from the upper event control task307, the information is passed to a lower Bluetooth controller 309.

Also, when information to be sent to an upper layer is received from thelower Bluetooth controller 309, the information is passed to the upperevent control task 307. In this way, an operation mode in which theBluetooth control task 308 passes information to the lower Bluetoothcontroller 309 when receiving the information from the upper eventcontrol task 307, and it passes information to the upper event controltask 307 when receiving the information from the lower Bluetoothcontroller 309 is hereinafter referred to as a command though mode.

Also, in the Bluetooth control task 308, even when information to besent to the intelligent terminal 202 is received from the upper eventcontrol task 307, if it is determined by this task's own determinationthat the response is given back to the upper layer immediately, theresponse can be given back to the upper layer without passing theinformation to the lower layer. This operation mode is hereinafterreferred to as a command return mode.

Information received from the upper layer of the Bluetooth controller309, with respect to the Bluetooth controller 309 and a Bluetooth driver310, is treated as wireless information to form an air interface, inaccordance with the generic access profile of the Bluetooth and itslower concept that is the serial port profile.

An OS 311 is an embedded type operating system of the facsimileapparatus 201, and performs task switching, event management and memorymanagement for the above described software hierarchy for use in thisembodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a software hierarchy being an embodiment in the intelligentterminal 202.

By way of an interface module 408, a Bluetooth control task 409, aBluetooth controller 410 and a Bluetooth driver 411, the operationstructure between the intelligent terminal 202 and the facsimileapparatus 201 is shown.

For control information between the intelligent terminal 202 and thefacsimile apparatus 201, the interface module 408 controls exchange ofinformation of a facsimile manager 401, a printer application 404, ascanner application 406, etc. in the upper layer via an inbox 402, anoutbox 403, a printer driver 405 and a scanner driver 407, as exchangeof information between the intelligent terminal 202 and the facsimileapparatus 201.

Regardless of whether the control is performed by the facsimile manager410 or by one of the drivers, the interface module 408 manages transferof facsimile images to be sent, images to be scanned, etc. read offacsimile received images and transfer of images to be printed.

In a Bluetooth control task 409, when information to be sent to thefacsimile apparatus 201 is received from the interface module 408, theinformation is passed to the lower Bluetooth controller 410. Also, wheninformation to be sent to the interface module 408 is received from thelower Bluetooth controller 410, the information is passed to theinterface module 408. This operation mode is hereinafter referred to asa command though mode.

Also, in the Bluetooth control task 409, even when information to besent to the facsimile apparatus 201 is received from the upper interfacemodule, if it is determined by this task's own determination that theresponse is given back to the upper layer immediately, the response canbe given back to the upper layer without passing the information to thelower layer, and this operation mode is hereinafter referred to as thecommand return mode.

Information received from the upper layer of the Bluetooth controller410, with respect to the Bluetooth controller 410 and a Bluetooth driver411, is treated as wireless information to form an air interface, inaccordance with the generic access profile of the Bluetooth and itslower concept that is the serial port profile.

An OS 412 is an operating system in the intelligent terminal 202 andreceives services of control of MMI and applications on the intelligentterminal 202, in a fundamental part of the service of control of theabove described hierarchy MMI and applications for use in the abovedescribed embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an operation at the start up of the above describedembodiment, showing an initialization process for the facsimileapparatus 201 and a process until transmission to a stand-by state, whenthe power of the intelligent terminal 202 is turned on.

Assume that the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 is already turnedon at this time.

When the power of the intelligent terminal 202 is turned on, thefacsimile manager 401 corresponding to Bluetooth is started to performprocessing to make connections with the facsimile apparatus 201.

To ensure that the facsimile apparatus 201 with which a connection ismade can perform communication, the Bluetooth control task 409 sends aninquiry sending request to the Bluetooth controller 410. At this time,class of device information in an inquiry command is sent as a serialcommunication terminal. When receiving the inquiry sending request, theBluetooth controller 410 carries out an inquiry procedure in accordancewith a Bluetooth connection procedure, and notifies the Bluetoothcontrol task 409 of the result thereof (inquiry result).

When receiving the inquiry result, the Bluetooth control task 409determines from the contents whether or not a connection with thefacsimile apparatus 201 can be made, and if it is determined that theconnection can be made, it designates an address of the facsimileapparatus 201 and makes a connection request to the Bluetooth controller410. If the connection is unsuccessful or the facsimile apparatus withwhich a connection is made is not found, from the contents of theinquiry result, a message showing that fact is displayed on a displayunit of the intelligent terminal 202.

When receiving the connection request, the Bluetooth controller 410establishes a connection using the serial port profile and forms aPiconet, based on the Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimileapparatus 201 and the specification of Bluetooth.

When the connection is established, notification of the result isprovided to the Bluetooth control task 409. When detecting the fact thatthe connection with the facsimile apparatus 201 could be establishedfrom the result of the connection, the Bluetooth control task 409transmits a ready signal to the facsimile manager 401, and transits thestate to the through mode in which the command from the facsimilemanager 401 is directly passed to the Bluetooth controller 410.

Also, when receiving a massage showing the fact that establishment ofthe connection ended in failure from the result of the connection, theBluetooth control task 409 displays the fact on the display unit of theintelligent terminal 202.

The Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201 notifies theBluetooth control task 308 of the result of the procedure ofestablishment of the connection with the intelligent terminal 202. Whenensuring from the result of the connection establishment that theconnection has been established, the Bluetooth control task 308 entersthe command through mode to wait for the command from the intelligentterminal 202 in order to pass the command from the intelligent terminal202 directly to the event control task 307. If connection isunsuccessful, the Bluetooth control task 308 is a wait state until theconnection is established.

When receiving the ready signal from the Bluetooth control task 409, thefacsimile manager 401 sends to the Bluetooth control task 409 a commandto transfer data such as dates of the intelligent terminal 202 and namesregistered in the facsimile manager 401 to the facsimile apparatus 201.

The Bluetooth control task 409 transfers the received command directlyto the Bluetooth controller 410, and the Bluetooth controller 410transfers it to the facsimile apparatus 201 using the serial portprofile.

The Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201 sends to theBluetooth control task 308 the command sent from the intelligentterminal 202 and the Bluetooth control task 308 passes the commanddirectly to the event control task 307. The event control task 307analyzes the received command and sends the result thereof to theBluetooth control task 308.

When the initialization process is ended, the facsimile manager 401issues a reception information acquirement command to check whether ornot the facsimile apparatus 201 has a received image. The event controltask 307, which receives the reception information acquirement command,searches an image management record stored in the RAM 103 as to whetheror not the received image exists.

If the received image is present, a response of “image existed” is givenback to the reception information acquirement command issued by theBluetooth control task 308, and if the received image does not exist, aresponse of “image not existed” is given back.

When the facsimile manager 401 determines by the response of thereception information acquirement command that the image exists, itperforms received image transfer processing in accordance with theprocess in FIG. 6.

If the image does not exist, the facsimile manager 401 issues a stateinformation acquirement command to have the state of the facsimileapparatus 201 stored. The event control task 307, which receives thestate information acquirement command, checks states as to the facsimileapparatus 201, such as the state of the printer, the state of thescanner and the state of the memory, and gives back the results.

If the facsimile manager 401 determines from the response of the stateinformation acquirement command that the state of error is found, itdisplays a message showing the state of error on the display unit of theintelligent terminal 202 and issues periodically the receptioninformation acquirement command and the state information acquirementcommand to the event control task 307 until the error is corrected.

If the received image does not exist, and the state of the facsimileapparatus 201 is normal, the facsimile apparatus 201 makes transition tothe Park mode since the communication between the intelligent terminal202 and the facsimile apparatus 201 does not need to be connected untilreception occurs at the facsimile apparatus 201. The “Park mode” is aPark mode being a low power consumption mode based on the Bluetoothspecification, in which the facsimile apparatus 201 that is a slaveterminal of the intelligent terminal 202 being a master based on theBluetooth specification receives a signal from the master only at acertain interval to maintain synchronization in the Piconet. Also, whenthe transition to the Park mode is made, data communication between themaster and the slave cannot be performed, and if data communication isto be performed, the Park mode should be released to make transition tothe active mode.

An operation of transition of the facsimile apparatus 201 to the Parkmode (low power consumption mode) will now be described. This operationis shown in the latter part of FIG. 5.

First, the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201requests transition to the Park mode to the Bluetooth controller 309.The Bluetooth controller 309, which receives the request for transitionto the Park mode, carries out a procedure for transition to the Parkmode based on the specification of the Bluetooth, in concert with theBluetooth controller 410.

When the procedure for transition to the Park mode is completed, theBluetooth controllers 309 and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308and 409, respectively, of the transition of the facsimile apparatus 201to the Park mode.

When notified of the transition to the Park mode, the Bluetooth controltasks 308 and 409 go into command return modes, respectively.

The Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202, whichgoes into the command return mode, performs processing similar to theprocessing in the event control task 307 of the facsimile apparatus 201connected with cables such as a serial interface such as RC232C and aparallel interface such as Centronics (a standard interface defined inIEEE 1284, etc.). The Bluetooth control task 409 gives back responsessuch as “image presence information” and “normal/abnormal states” to theinformation acquirement command and the reception informationacquirement command that are issued periodically from the facsimilemanager 401, based on facsimile status information stored in the RAM 103of the intelligent terminal 202.

The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 performsoperation similar to the operation in the facsimile manager 401 in theintelligent terminal 202 when it is connected with the above describedcable. The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201issues periodically the reception information acquirement command andthe state information acquirement command to the event control task 307in order to monitor at every time changes of states of the facsimileapparatus 201 and whether or not the image has been received from someother facsimile apparatus via the communication line 203. When receivingthe reception information acquirement command and the state informationacquirement command from the Bluetooth control task 308, the eventcontrol task 307 gives back reception information (for example, image“absent”) and state information (for example, “normal state”) as aresponse.

If it is defined that the received image is not transferred to theintelligent terminal 202 during initialization process or whenregistered data is changed with the intelligent terminal 202 and theregistered data is transferred to the facsimile apparatus 201, thefacsimile manager 401 and the Bluetooth control task 308 of thefacsimile apparatus 201 do not issue the reception informationacquirement command and the state information acquirement command.

FIG. 6 shows a communication operation during reception image datatransfer procedure in which the facsimile apparatus 201 receives animage from some other facsimile apparatus via the communication line203, and transfers the image data to the intelligent terminal 202.

The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 is in thecommand return mode during stand-by, namely during the Park mode, andissues periodically the state information acquirement command and thereception information acquirement command to the event control task 307to monitor the state of the facsimile apparatus 201. The event controltask 307 searches the image management record stored in the RAM 103 asto whether or not the received image exists. When the received imageexists, a response of “image existed” is given back to the receptioninformation acquirement command that is issued by the Bluetooth controltask 308.

When receiving the response of “image existed”, the Bluetooth controltask 308 releases the Park mode to form the Piconet again, and recoverscommunication between the facsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligentterminal 202 in order to transfer the reception image to the intelligentterminal 202.

For recovering the communication, a request for return to Active is sentto the Bluetooth controller 309. The Bluetooth controller 309, whichreceives the request for return to Active, communicates with theBluetooth controller 410 of the intelligent terminal 202 in accordancewith a communication recovering procedure of the Bluetooth. When thecommunication is recovered, the Bluetooth controller 309 gives modechange notification to the Bluetooth control task 308. If the Bluetoothcontrol task 308, which receives the mode change notification,determines form the contents thereof that the communication has beenrecovered, it makes transition from the command return mode to thecommand through mode. If determining that the communication cannot berecovered, it keeps the state of the command return mode.

Similarly, the Bluetooth controller 410 of the intelligent terminal 202gives mode change notification to the Bluetooth control task 409. If theBluetooth control task 409, which receives the mode change notification,determines from the contents thereof that the communication has beenrecovered, it makes transition from the command return mode to thecommand through mode. If determining that the communication cannot berecovered, it keeps the state of the command return mode, and displays amessage showing the fact on the display unit of the intelligent terminal202.

When the communication is recovered, and each of the Bluetooth controltasks 308 and 409 goes into the command though mode, the communicationbetween the facsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 isperformed to carry out reception image data transfer procedure, based onthe Bluetooth specification. Furthermore, for the command interface atthis time, reception image data transfer procedure is performed with acommand interface same as the command interface when connected withcables such as a serial interface such as RS232C and a parallelinterface such as Centronics (standard interface defined in IEEE1284,etc.).

When the image data transfer processing is completed, the facsimilemanager 401 issues the reception information acquirement command to thefacsimile apparatus 201 to check whether or not the received imageexists. The event control task 307, which receives the receptioninformation acquirement command searches the image management recordstored in the RAM 103 as to whether or not the received image exists. Ifthe received image exists, a response of “image existed” is given back,and if the received image does not exist, a response of “image notexisted” is given back.

If determining by the response of the reception information acquirementcommand that the image existed, the facsimile manager 401 performs againreceived image transfer processing.

If the received image does not exist, the facsimile manager 401 issuesthe state information acquirement command to have the state of thefacsimile apparatus 201 stored. The event control task 307, whichreceives the state information acquirement command, checks states as tothe facsimile apparatus 201 such as the state of the printer, the stateof the scanner and the state of the memory, and gives back the resultthereof.

If the facsimile manager 401 determines based on the response of thestate information acquirement command that the state of error is found,it displays a message showing the state of error on the display of theintelligent terminal 202 and issues periodically the receptioninformation acquirement command and the state information acquirementcommand to the event control task 307 until the error is corrected. Whenit is determined that the state of the facsimile apparatus 201 isnormal, the state information acquirement command and the receptioninformation acquirement command are periodically issued until transitionis made to the Park mode being a low power consumption mode again.

When determining that the state is normal, the facsimile apparatus 201makes transition to the Park mode being a low power consumption mode.

The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 requeststransition to the Park mode to the Bluetooth controller 309. TheBluetooth controller 309, which receives the request for transition tothe Park mode, carries out a procedure for transition to the Park modebased on the specification of the Bluetooth, with the Bluetoothcontroller 410.

When the procedure for transition to the Park mode is completed, theBluetooth controllers 309 and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308and 409, respectively, of the transition to the Park mode.

When notified of the transition to the Park mode, the Bluetooth controltasks 308 and 409 go into command return modes, respectively.

Again, the command return mode is maintained until the user startsservice such as facsimile transmission, scanning or print at theintelligent terminal 202, or reception occurs at the facsimile apparatus201.

FIG. 7 shows an outlined operation of performing transfer control of thecommand and data between the intelligent terminal 202 and the facsimileapparatus 201 in the reception image transfer data procedure.

In the operation of reception image data transfer service, a file IDacquirement command is first sent from the intelligent terminal 202.When receiving the file ID acquirement command, the facsimile apparatus201 examines the RAM 103, sets a receipt number associated withreception image data to a parameter as a file ID, and sends the same tothe intelligent terminal 202 along with the answer of “OK”.

If the file ID is set with the answer parameter of the file IDacquirement command, the intelligent terminal 202 sets a file ID to betransferred, and sends a file information acquirement command. Whenreceiving the file information acquirement command, the facsimileapparatus 201 sets a file attribute of a designated file ID and thenumber of pages to the parameter, and sends the above describedparameter to the intelligent terminal 202 along with the answer of “OK”.If the designated file ID do not exist, the answer of “NG” is givenback.

Then, when receiving the page information acquirement command in whichthe file ID and the page number are designated, the facsimile apparatus201 sets to the parameter information such as main/sub scan resolutionof the page designated from management information of the RAM 103, andsends the answer of “OK”. If the designated file ID and page do notexist, the answer of “NG” is given back.

When receiving the answer of “OK” for the page information acquirementcommand, the intelligent terminal 202 sends a page transfer requestcommand, and subsequently sends a parameter to which the file ID andpage number to be transferred are set. If the page of the designatedfile ID is accumulated in the image memory 104, the facsimile apparatus201 sends the answer of “OK”, and if they do not exist in the imagememory 104, the facsimile apparatus 201 sends the answer of “NG”.

When receiving the answer of “OK” to the page transfer request command,the intelligent terminal 202 sends a requested page designation command,and subsequently sends to the facsimile apparatus 201 a parameter towhich the main/sub scan resolution and data format acquired with thepage information acquirement command is set. The facsimile apparatus 201examines whether or not the contents of the received parameter matchesthe contents of management information of the RAM 103, and sends theanswer of “OK” if the contents match each other, and sends the answer of“NG” if the contents do not match each other.

Thereafter, the intelligent terminal 202 issues an image data transferrequest. The facsimile apparatus 201 transfers image data ofpredetermined size to the intelligent terminal 202 from the image memory104, and along therewith sends the answer of “OK”.

After transfer of one page is completed, the intelligent terminal 202puts the transferred reception image in the inbox 402, and displays theimage so that the completion of the transfer of the received image andthe contents of the received image can be recognized.

Then, a page erase command is issued. The facsimile apparatus 201 whichreceives the page erase command erases the image data of the designatedpage from the image memory 104, modifies the management information ofthe RAM 103, and sends the answer of “OK”.

The above described operation is repeated until reception image data ofall pages are transferred, and when reception image data of all pagesare transferred, a file erase instruction command is accepted to erasethe management information of the designated file, and the process isended.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart when the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 isturned on.

In FIG. 8, when the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 is turned on,initialization process for the Bluetooth control task 308 is performedat step S701. At this time, the operation mode is taken as the “commandthrough mode”. Also, the variable for storing the existence/notexistence of the received image managed by the Bluetooth control task308 is taken as image absent.

The above described “command through mode” is an operation mode in whicha command is sent to the Bluetooth controller 410 when this command isreceived from the facsimile manager 401, and a response is sent to thefacsimile manager 401 when the response is received from the Bluetoothcontroller 410.

The above described process is carried out, and start-up of theintelligent terminal 202 is waited.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of power ON process of theBluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202.

When the power of the intelligent terminal 202 is turned on, thefacsimile manager 401 is started, and the Bluetooth control task 409sends an Inquiry to the facsimile apparatus 201 via the Bluetoothcontroller 410 at step S801.

At S802, whether or not the facsimile apparatus 201 has responded to thesent Inquiry, and if it has responded normally, the process proceeds toS804, and if it has not responded normally, the process proceeds toS803.

At S803, by displaying on the display unit of the intelligent terminal202 the fact that there exists no connectable facsimile apparatus,notification is made and the process is ended.

At S804, a connection request is sent to the Bluetooth controller 410,and the process proceeds to S805.

At S805, a response to the connection request is waited, and the processproceeds to S806 if notification of failure in connection request isgiven from the facsimile apparatus 201 via the Bluetooth controller 410,and the process proceeds to S807 if notification of success inconnection is given.

At S806, notification of the failure in connection to the facsimileapparatus 201 is made using the display unit of the intelligent terminal202 and the process is ended.

At S807, the Bluetooth control task 409 notifies the facsimile manager401 of Ready showing that connection to the facsimile apparatus could beestablished, and at S808, transition to the “command through mode” ismade.

As described above, the “command through mode” is an operation mode inwhich a command is sent to the Bluetooth controller 410 when theBluetooth control task 409 receives this command from the facsimilemanager 401, and a response is sent to the facsimile manager 401 whenthe response is received from the Bluetooth controller 410.

When receiving the above described Ready signal, the facsimile manager401 uses the Serial Port Profile to perform initialization processbetween the facsimile manager 401 and the event control task 307 of thefacsimile apparatus 201.

When the initialization process is completed, the facsimile manager 401periodically sends the reception information acquirement command to thefacsimile apparatus 201 via the Bluetooth control task 409 and theBluetooth controller 410, and monitors whether or not the facsimileapparatus 201 has the received image. At S809, whether or not a responseto this reception information acquirement command has been received isdetermined, and if the response has been received from the facsimileapparatus 201 via the Bluetooth control task 409 and the Bluetoothcontroller 410, information of existence/not existence of received imagetherein is stored in the Bluetooth control task 409 at S810.

At S811, as described in the latter half of FIG. 5, whether or not thenotification of transition to the Park mode led by the facsimileapparatus 201 has been received from the Bluetooth controller 410 isdetermined, and if the notification has not been received, the processproceeds to S809, where the command through mode is continued, and ifthe notification has been received, the process proceeds to S812, wheretransition to the command return mode is made, and power on process iscompleted.

The “command return mode of the Bluetooth control task 409” will now bedescribed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a received image upload process of theBluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 in the abovedescribed embodiment.

The Bluetooth control task 308 is in the command return mode in the satewhere no received image exists.

At S901 of the command return mode, the reception informationacquirement command is sent to the event control task 307, and at S902,a response from the event control task 307 is received. When theresponse is received, reception information (image existed/not existed)stored in the response is stored in the Bluetooth control task 308 atS903.

At S904, whether or not the image exists in the reception information isdetermined, and if the image exists, the process proceeds to S906, wheretransition is made from the command return mode to the command throughmode. If the image does not exist, the process waits to send thereception information acquirement command periodically at S905, and thenthe process returns to S901.

At S906, an Active return request is sent to the Bluetooth controller309, and at S907, whether or not the command has been received isdetermined. This command is an operation instruction command from thefacsimile manager 401 to the event control task 307 as described withFIG. 7. If the command has been received, the process proceeds to S908,where the received command is sent to the event control task 307, and ifit has not been received, the process proceeds to S911.

At S911, whether or not the response has been received is determined.This response is a response from the event control task 307 to thefacsimile manager 401 as described with FIG. 7. If the response has notbeen received, the process proceeds to S907, and if it has beenreceived, whether or not the received response is a response to thereception information acquirement command is determined at S912, and ifit is a response to the reception information acquirement command,reception information (image existed/not existed) is stored in theBluetooth control task 308 at S913.

At S914, the received response is sent to the Bluetooth controller 309,and the Bluetooth control task 308 determines whether or not the imageexists in the stored reception information at S915, and if the imagedoes not exist, the process proceeds to S916, where transition to thecommand return mode is made, and if the image exists, the processreturns to S907, where the command through mode is continued.

At S916, the request for transition to the Park mode is sent to theBluetooth controller 309, and transition to the command return mode ismade.

At S917, transition to the command return mode is made if notificationof Mode transition from the intelligent terminal 202 is received.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a received image upload process of theBluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 in the abovedescribed embodiment.

The Bluetooth control task 409 is in the command return mode in thestate where no received image exists.

At S1001 of the command return mode, whether or not the receptioninformation acquirement command has been facsimile manager 401 isdetermined, and if the command has been received, the process proceedsto S1002, and if it has not been received, the process proceeds toS1003.

At S1002, the reception information (image existed/not existed) storedin the Bluetooth control task 409 is sent to the facsimile manger 401 asa response.

At S1003, a procedure for return to Active (procedure for return toActive shown in FIG. 6) led by the facsimile apparatus 201 is carriedout, and whether or not the Bluetooth control task 409 has received Modetransition notification from the Bluetooth controller 410 is determined,and if the notification has not been received, the process proceeds toS1001, and if it has been received, the process proceeds to S1004, wheretransition to the command through mode is made.

At S1004, transition to the Park mode led by the facsimile apparatus 201is performed, and whether or not the Bluetooth control task 409 hasreceived the Mode transition notification from the Bluetooth 410 isdetermined, and if the notification has not been received, the processproceeds to S1005, and if it has been received, the process proceeds toS1001, where transition to the command return mode is made.

At S1005, whether or not the command has been received is determined.This command is an operation instruction command from the facsimilemanager 401 to the event control task 307 as described with FIG. 7. Ifthe command has been received, the process proceeds to S1006, where thereceived command is sent to the Bluetooth controller 410, and if it hasnot been received, the process proceeds to S1009. At S1009, whether ornot the response has been received is determined, and if the responsehas been received, the process proceeds to S1010, and if it has not beenreceived, the process proceeds to S1004. This response is a responsefrom the event control task 307 to the facsimile manager 401 asdescribed with FIG. 7.

At S1010, whether or not the above described response is a response ofthe reception information acquirement command is determined, and if itis the response of the reception information acquirement command, theprocess proceeds to S1011, and if not, the process proceeds to S1012.The reception information (image existed/not existed) included in theresponse is stored in the Bluetooth control task 409 at S1011, and theresponse is sent to the facsimile manager 401 at S1012.

Timeout is reached when no effective data is available within apredetermined time period in the command through mode at S1013, and arequest for transition to the Park mode is sent to the facsimileapparatus at S1014.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure duringtransmission image transfer process, and shows the case where thissequence transfers image data stored in the intelligent terminal 202 tothe facsimile apparatus 201, and the facsimile apparatus 201 performsfacsimile transmission to the designated opposite terminal 204.

That is, the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202is in the command return mode H at the time of stand-by that is in thePark mode, and though not shown, gives answers to the receptioninformation acquirement command and the state information acquirementcommand sent from the facsimile manager 401 periodically.

Similarly, the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201is also in the command return mode J at the time of stand-by that is inthe Park mode, and issues periodically the reception informationcommand, and the state information acquirement command to the eventcontrol task 307 to monitor the state of the facsimile apparatus 201.

Then, when the user operates the operation unit of the intelligentterminal 202 to select a transmission service, the facsimile manager 401sends to the Bluetooth control task 409 the transmission instructioncommand and a parameter in which the facsimile number of the oppositeterminal 204 is designated.

Then, the Bluetooth control task 409, which receives the transmissioninstruction command and the parameter (facsimile number), returns themode between the facsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal202 to the Active mode (normal operation mode) in which datacommunication is possible to provide a transmission service.

That is, the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202sends to the Bluetooth controller 410 a command of request for return toActive, and the Bluetooth controller 410 which receives the command ofrequest for return to Active performs procedure for return to Active inconformity of the Bluetooth specification, with the Bluetooth controller309, and returns the mode to the Active mode. And thereafter, theBluetooth controllers 309 and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308and 409, respectively, of mode change notification, and transition ofthe operation mode from command return modes H and J to command throughmodes I and K is made.

Furthermore, if the communication could not be recovered, the Bluetoothcontrollers 309 and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409of the fact that the communication could not be recovered. At this time,the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 keep the sate of the commandreturn mode. Also, the Bluetooth control task 409 sends the answer: NGto the facsimile manager 401, and the facsimile manger 401 displays amessage that transmission service cannot be performed, when receivingthe answer: NG.

Also, if the communication could be recovered, the Bluetooth controltask 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 sends directly to the eventcontrol task 307 of the facsimile apparatus 201 the transmissioninstruction command and the parameter (facsimile number) received fromthe facsimile manager 401.

Then, when the event control task 307 which receives the transmissioninstruction command and the parameter ensures that the facsimileapparatus 201 is not currently under communication, and is not full ofreservations for transmission, it sends the response of “OK” to thefacsimile manager 401 of the intelligent terminal 202. Furthermore, whenthe facsimile apparatus 201 is under communication or full ofreservations for transmission, the response of “NG” is sent to thefacsimile manager 401.

Then, when receiving the response of “OK” from the event control task307, the facsimile manager 401 performs transmission image data transferprocedure G with a command interface similar to the cable I/F.

Then, when the transmission image data transfer procedure G iscompleted, the facsimile manager 401 issues to the facsimile apparatus201 a transmission result acquirement command and a parameter in whichthe receipt number is designated to know the transmission result. Then,the event control task 307, which receives the transmission resultacquirement command, searches the management information stored in theRAM 103, and checks the transmission result of the indicated receiptnumber. Thereafter, the event control task 307 sends to the facsimilemanager 401 a response showing the completion of transmission togetherwith the transmission result.

Furthermore, the facsimile manager 401 issues the transmission resultacquirement command to the facsimile apparatus 201 until it is knownfrom the response to the transmission result acquirement command thattransmission is completed.

Then, when the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal202 determines that transmission has been completed, the wirelesscommunication line goes into the Park mode again.

That is, the Bluetooth control task 409 sends to the Bluetoothcontroller 410 the command of request for transition to the Park mode.The Bluetooth controller 410, which receives the command of request fortransition to the Park mode, carries out procedure for transition to thePark mode, with the Bluetooth controller 309, and when the transitionprocedure is completed, the Bluetooth controllers 309 and 410 notify theBluetooth control tasks 308 and 409, respectively, of the transition tothe Park mode.

Then, when the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 receive thenotification of the transition to the Park mode, the operation modesbecome command return modes H and J again. That is, the command returnmodes H and J are continued until the user starts a service such asfacsimile transmission, image reading process or printing process at theintelligent terminal 202, or the facsimile apparatus 201 receives imagedata. Then, in this command return mode, the command and response areexchanged only between the facsimile manager 401 and the Bluetoothcontrol task 409, and between the Bluetooth control task 308 and theevent control task 307, the command and response are not exchangedbetween the intelligent terminal 202 and the facsimile apparatus 201.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure duringtransfer redial process for the above described transmission image, andthis sequence shows an operation during redial process for thetransmission service.

That is, as in the case of FIG. 12, transmission modes make transitionfrom command return modes J and H to command through modes K and I,whereby the reception image data transfer procedure G is carried out.

Then, when the transmission image data transfer procedure G iscompleted, the facsimile manager 401 issues to the facsimile apparatus201 the transmission result acquirement command and a parameter in whichthe receipt number is designated to know the transmission result. Then,the event control task 307, which receives the transmission resultacquirement command and the above described parameter, searches themanagement information stored in the RAM 103, and acquires thetransmission result of the indicated receipt number to send a response.The facsimile manager 401 of the intelligent terminal 202 is notified ofthis response. When determining from the response that it is in theredial stand-by state, the facsimile manager 401 displays the fact tonotify the user thereof.

Also, when the Bluetooth control task 308 determines that it is in theredial stand-by state from the response sent to the facsimile manager401 from the event control task 307, it sends to the Bluetoothcontroller 309 the command of request for transition to the Park mode.Then, the Bluetooth controller 309, which receives the command ofrequest for transition to the Park mode, carries out procedure fortransition to the Park mode with the Bluetooth controller 410, and whenthe procedure for transition is completed, the Bluetooth controllers 309and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409, respectively, ofthe transition to the Park mode, and after the transition to the Parkmode, transition of the operation mode to command return modes J and His made.

Thereafter, the facsimile manager 401 sends periodically thetransmission result acquirement command and the parameter to theBluetooth control task 409, the Bluetooth task 409 sends to thefacsimile manager 401 a response showing that it is in the state ofredial standby.

Also, the Bluetooth control task 308 sends periodically the transmissionresult acquirement and the parameter to the event control task 307, andcontinues to store transmission results. Then, the event control task307 sends to the Bluetooth control task 308 a response showing that itis in the state of redial standby.

And thereafter, when the transmission image that was in the state ofredial standby is sent to the opposite normally, the event control task307 gives back the completion of transmission as a response to thetransmission result acquirement command and parameter from the Bluetoothcontrol task 308. When the Bluetooth control task 308 determines fromthe response from the event control task 307 that the transmissionprocess has been completed normally, it returns the mode withintelligent terminal 202 to the Active mode, and waits until thetransmission result acquirement command and parameter from the facsimilemanager 401 are received.

At this time, the Bluetooth control task 308 and the Bluetooth controltask 409 recognize the return to the Active mode, and make transition tothe command through node. When the Bluetooth control task 308 receivesthe transmission result acquirement command and parameter from thefacsimile manager 401, it sends the transmission result acquirementcommand and parameter to the event control task 307. The event controltask 307 receives the transmission result acquirement command andparameter, and if there exists a parameter showing the result of theabove described transmission process that was in the state of redialstandby, it gives back a response showing that the transmission processhas been completed normally.

When the facsimile manager 401 recognizes from the response from theevent control task 307 that the transmission process that was in thesate of redial standby has been completed normally, it displays the factto notify the user thereof.

Also, when the Bluetooth control task 308 recognizes from the contentsof the response sent from the event control task 307 that thetransmission process that was in the sate of redial standby has beencompleted normally, it lets the mode with the intelligent terminal 202make transition to the Park mode again. Then, the Bluetooth control task308 and the Bluetooth control task 409 make transition to the commandreturn mode.

Furthermore, as the above described operation during transfer redialprocess for the transmission image in FIG. 13, a request for transitionto the Park mode is made from the facsimile apparatus 201 to theintelligent terminal 202 after the transfer process, but as in the caseof FIG. 30, a request for transition to the Park mode may be made fromthe intelligent terminal 202 to the facsimile apparatus 201.

The case where a request for transition to the Park mode is made fromthe intelligent terminal 202 to the facsimile apparatus 201 aftercompletion of the transfer redial process for the transmission imagewill now be described below, using FIG. 30.

In FIG. 30, as in the case of FIG. 12, transition of the operation modemake from command return modes J and H to command through modes K and Iis made, whereby the reception image data transfer procedure G iscarried out.

Then, when the transmission image data transfer procedure G iscompleted, the facsimile manager 401 issues to the facsimile apparatus201 the transmission result acquirement command and a parameter in whicha receipt number is designated to know the transmission result. Theevent control task 307, which receives the transmission resultacquirement command and the above described parameter, searches themanagement information stored in the RAM 103, and acquires thetransmission result of the designated number to send a response.

Then, when the Bluetooth control task 409 determines from the responsefrom the event control task 307 that it is in the state of redialstandby, it sends to the Bluetooth controller 410 the command of requestfor transition to the Park mode. Then, the Bluetooth controller 410,which receives the command of request for transition to the Park mode,carries out a procedure for transition to the Park mode with theBluetooth controller 309, and when the procedure for transition iscompleted, the Bluetooth controllers 309 and 410 notify the Bluetoothcontrol tasks 308 and 409, respectively, of the transition to the Parkmode, and after the transition to the Park mode, transition of theoperation mode to command return modes J and H is made.

Thereafter, the facsimile manager 401 sends periodically thetransmission result acquirement command and the parameter to theBluetooth control task 409, the Bluetooth control task 409 sends to thefacsimile manager 401 a response showing that it is in the state ofredial standby.

Also, the Bluetooth control task 308 sends periodically the transmissionresult acquirement command and the parameter to the event control task307, and continues to store transmission results in the RAM 103. Then,the event control task 307 sends to the Bluetooth control task 308 aresponse showing that it is in the state of redial standby.

Furthermore, if the transmission image that was in the state of redialstandby can be sent normally, the same process as described above isapplied.

FIG. 14 shows a process procedure of the transmission image datatransfer procedure G in FIGS. 12, 13 and 30.

First, the intelligent terminal 202 sends a receipt number acquirementcommand to the facsimile apparatus 201 (step S1401). When the facsimileapparatus 201 receives the receipt number acquirement command, it sendsto the intelligent terminal 202 the receipt number stored in the RAM 103together with the answer of “OK” (step S1402).

Then, the intelligent terminal 202 sends a page information acquirementcommand to the facsimile apparatus 201, and sends to the facsimileapparatus 201 a parameter in which the main/sub scan resolution and theimage size of image data to be sent is set (step S1403). The facsimileapparatus 201 determines based on the received parameter whether or nottransmission is possible, and if transmission is possible, it sets eachparameter to the management information of the RAM 103 and sends theanswer of “OK” to the intelligent terminal 202 (step S1404). On theother hand, if transmission is not possible, the answer of “NG” is sentto the intelligent terminal 202.

Then, when the intelligent terminal 202 receives the answer of “OK” tothe page information acquirement command, it sends an image datatransfer instruction command, and image data and the image data size tothe facsimile apparatus 201 (step S1405).

Then, the facsimile apparatus 201 receives image data by the image datatransfer instruction command, accumulates the same in the image memory104, and sends the answer of “OK” to the intelligent terminal 202 (stepS1406). Furthermore, in this case, if there is no free space in theimage memory 104, the answer of “NG” is sent to end the process.

Then, the intelligent terminal 202 sends image data of one page to thefacsimile apparatus 201 during reception of the answer of “OK” to theimage data transfer instruction command. Also, when the answer of “OK”is received to the image data transfer instruction command, transmissionof the image data is stopped, and the abnormal end is displayed on thedisplay unit.

Then, when a predetermined amount of transmission image data isaccumulated in the image memory 104, the facsimile apparatus 201originates a call to the destination facsimile number received with thetransmission instruction command and performs facsimile transmission.Furthermore, each time facsimile transmission of one page is completed,the corresponding region of the image memory 104 is erased.

Then, whether or not image data transmission of one page has beencompleted is determined (step S1407), and if it has been completed,whether or not image data transmission of all pages has been completedis determined (step S1408), and if the answer thereto is negative (No),the process returns to S1403 to repeat the above described process, andif the answer thereto is positive (Yes), the process is ended.

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing another embodiment of operationprocedure during transmission process for the transmission image, and inthis embodiment, when the transmission image data transfer procedure Gis completed, the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal202 makes transition to the Park mode immediately after storing thereceipt number and the transmission result: sending state, withoutinquiring the facsimile apparatus 201 of the transmission result.

That is, as in the case of FIG. 12, after the operation modes are madeto make transition from command return modes J and H to command throughmodes K and I, the transmission image data transfer procedure G similarto that in FIG. 14 is carried out.

Then, when the transmission image data transfer procedure G iscompleted, the Bluetooth control task 409 sends to the Bluetoothcontroller 410 a command of request for transition to the Park mode, andthe Bluetooth controller 410, which receives the command of request fortransition to the Park mode, carries out a procedure for transition tothe Park mode with the Bluetooth controller 309, and when the transitionprocedure is completed, the Bluetooth controllers 309 and 410 notify theBluetooth controller 308 and 409, respectively, of the transition to thePark mode, and the operation modes become command return modes J and H.

Then, when the operation modes become command return modes J and H, theBluetooth control task 409 reads the transmission information (thetransmission result acquirement command, the receipt number, etc.)stored in a RAM (not shown) of the intelligent terminal 202 and sends aresponse to the facsimile manager 401.

Also, the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201periodically sends to the event control task 307 the transmission resultacquirement command and the receipt number of the transmission resultthat it wants to acquire. Then, the event control task 307 retrieves thetransmission result of the corresponding receipt number from themanagement information stored in the RAM 103, and gives back the same asa response. The Bluetooth control task 308 continues this process untilit is determined that the image data transmission process is completed.

Then, when the Bluetooth control task 308 receives from the eventcontrol task 307 a transmission completion response showing thecompletion of transmission of image data, the Bluetooth control task 308sends to the Bluetooth controller 309 the command of request for returnto Active to recover communication with the intelligent terminal 202.

The Bluetooth controller 309, which receives the request for return toActive, carries out the procedure for return to Active with theBluetooth controller 410, and when the Active communication is returned,the Bluetooth controllers 309 and 410 give mode change notification tothe Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409, respectively, and maketransition to command through modes K and I.

When transition to command through modes K and I is made in this way,the Bluetooth control task 409 sends directly to the Bluetoothcontroller 410 the transmission result acquirement command from thefacsimile manager 401 and a parameter in which the receipt number of thetransmission result that it wants to acquire is set, which are sent tothe Bluetooth controller 309 via the Bluetooth controller 410, and aresent to the event control task 307 via the Bluetooth control task 308.Also, the event control task 307 sends the transmission result of thedesignated receipt number to the facsimile manager 401 as a response,and ends the process.

The process procedure during the above described transmission imagetransfer will now be described for the intelligent terminal 202 fromwhich the image is transferred and the facsimile apparatus 201 to whichthe image is transferred, separately.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process procedure during transfer forthe intelligent terminal 202 from which the image is transferred, andthis program is executed with the Bluetooth control task 409.

The Bluetooth control task 409 is in the command return mode H, when noreceived image exists, or in the state where the transmissioninstruction command from the facsimile manager 401 is not received.

Then, when the command from the facsimile manager 401 is received atstep S1601, whether or not the received command is a transmissioninstruction command is determined at subsequent step S1602, and if theanswer thereto is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S1603,where a needed response out of the information stored in the RAM is sentto the facsimile manager 401 in accordance with the received command,and the process returns to step S1601 to wait a command from thefacsimile manager 401.

On the other hand, if the command from the facsimile manager 401 is atransmission instruction command, the answer at step S1602 is positive(Yes), and the process proceeds to step S1604, where the transmissioninstruction command and parameter received from the facsimile manager401 are stored in the RAM, and thereafter the request for return toActive is sent to the Bluetooth controller 410. Then, at subsequent stepS1615, whether or not mode transition notification could be received toperform return to Active is determined, and if the answer thereto isnegative (No), a “NG” response is sent to the facsimile manager 401 andthe process returns to step S1601 to execute the above described commandreturn mode.

Also, when the answer at step S1615 is positive (Yes), namely if returnto Active could be performed and mode transition notification wasreceived, transition of the operation mode to the command through modeI, and the process proceeds to step S1605.

Then, at step S1605, the transmission instruction command and parameterfrom the facsimile manager 401, stored in the RAM, is sent to theBluetooth controller 410, and the process proceeds to step S1606.

At step S1606, whether or not the command has been received isdetermined, and if the command has been received, the process proceedsto step S1607, where the command is sent to the Bluetooth controller410, and thereafter the process returns to step S1606 to repeat theabove described process. On the other hand, if the reception of thecommand has not occurred, the process proceeds to step S1610 todetermine whether or not a response has been received from the Bluetoothcontroller 410. Then, when the answer thereto is negative (No), theprocess returns to step S1606 to repeat the above described process,while when the answer is positive (Yes), the process proceeds to stepS1611, where the received response is sent to the facsimile manager 401,and at subsequent step S1612, whether or not the above describedresponse is a response to the transmission result acquirement command isdetermined. Then, if the answer is negative (No), the process returns tostep S1606 to repeat the above described process, while if the answer ispositive (Yes), the response is stored in the RAM, and the processproceeds to step S1613.

Then, at step S1613, whether the transmission state is of redial standbyor completion is determined based on the transmission result stored inthe RAM, and if the answer thereto is negative (No), the process returnsto step S1606, where the command through mode I is continued, while ifthe answer is positive (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1614, wherethe command of request for transition to the Park mode is sent to theBluetooth controller 410, and thereafter the process returns to stepS1601 to make transition to the command return mode H.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process procedure during transfer forthe facsimile apparatus 201 to which the image is transferred, and thisprogram is executed with the Bluetooth control task 308.

The Bluetooth control task 308 is in the command return mode J in thestate where neither a received image nor transmission instructionrequest from the intelligent terminal 202 exists.

That is, at step S1701, whether or not the intelligent terminal 202 hasbeen already notified of the transmission result is determined, and ifthe answer thereto is positive (Yes), the process proceeds to stepS1705, while if the answer is negative (No), the process proceeds tostep S1702, where the transmission information acquirement command issent to the event control task 307, and at subsequent step S1703, theresponse to the transmission information acquirement command from theevent control task 307 is stored in the RAM 103, and the contents of theresponse are analyzed to determine whether or not the transmission statehas changed to completion of transmission is determined. Then, if thetransmission state has not changed, the process proceeds to step S1705,where transition to the Active mode led by the intelligent terminal 202is performed, and whether or not notification of the mode transition hasbeen made is determined. Then, if the answer thereto is negative (No),the process waits for a predetermined time period to send a command suchas the transmission information acquirement command and the receptioninformation acquirement command periodically to the event control task307, and thereafter the process the process returns to step S1701 tocontinue the command return mode J. On the other hand, if the answer ispositive (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1707, where transition tothe command return mode K is made.

Also, if the answer at step S1703 is positive (Yes) and thus thetransmission state has changed, the process proceeds to step S1704,where the command of request for return to Active is sent to theBluetooth controller 309, and connection to the intelligent terminal 202is recovered, and the process proceeds to step S1707, where transitionto the command return mode K is made.

That is, whether or not notification of the transition to the Park modeled by the intelligent terminal 202 has been made is determined at stepS1707, and if the answer thereto is negative (No), the process proceedsto step S1708 to determine whether or not the command has been received,and if the command has been received, the process proceeds to step S1709to send the command to the event control task 307, and thereafter theprocess returns to step S1707 to repeat the above described process. Onthe other hand, if the command has not been received, the processproceeds to step S1710, where whether or not a response from the eventcontrol task 307 has been received is determined. Then, when the answerthereto is negative (No), the process returns to step S1707 to repeatthe above described process, while when the answer is positive (Yes),the process proceeds to subsequent step S1711. At step S1711, thereceived response is stored in the RAM 103 and is sent to the Bluetoothcontroller 309, and the process proceeds to step S1712.

At step S1712, the transmission result state stored in the RAM 103 isobserved to whether or not the transmission is in the sate of redialstandby, and when it is not in the sate of redial standby, the processreturns to step S1707 to repeat the above described process. In thiscase, when it is completion of transmission, for example, the process oftransition to the Park mode led by the intelligent terminal 202 iscarried out and notification of the transition to the Park mode is givenfrom the Bluetooth controller 309 to the Bluetooth control task 308, andtherefore the answer at step S1707 is positive (Yes) and the processreturns to step S1701, transition to the command return mode J is madefor the operation mode.

Also, if the answer at step S1712 is positive (Yes), namely if it isdetermined that the transmission is in the state of redial standby, theprocess proceeds to step S1713, where the command of request fortransition to the Park mode is sent to the Bluetooth controller 309 toperform transition to the Park mode led by the facsimile apparatus 201,and when the transition to the Park mode is confirmed, the processreturns to step S1701, and transition to the command return mode J ismade for the operation mode.

In the above described FIG. 17, the case where transmission resultinformation of the facsimile apparatus 201 is acquired has beendescribed, but a process for transferring a transmission image from theintelligent terminal 202 to the facsimile apparatus 201 will bedescribed, using FIG. 31.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a process for transferring thetransmission image from the intelligent terminal 202 to the facsimileapparatus 201, and this program is executed with the Bluetooth controltask 308.

The Bluetooth control task 308 is in the command return mode J in thestate where neither a received image nor transmission instructionrequest from the intelligent terminal 202 exists.

That is, the reception information acquirement command is sent to theevent control task 307 at step S3101, and when a response from the eventcontrol task 307 is received at step S3102, the received imageinformation (information of existence/not existence of image) in theresponse is stored in the RAM 103 at subsequent step S3103, and then theprocess proceeds to step S3104.

At step S3104, transition to the Active mode led by the intelligentterminal 202 is performed, and whether or not notification of the modetransition has been made is determined. Then, if the answer thereto isnegative (No), the process waits for a predetermined time period to sendperiodically a command such as the transmission information acquirementcommand and the reception information acquirement command to the eventcontrol task 307, and thereafter the process returns to step S3101 tocontinue the command return mode J. On the other hand, if the answer atstep S3104 is positive (Yes), the process proceeds to step S3106, wheretransition to the command through mode K is made.

That is, whether or not notification of the transition to the Park modeled by the intelligent terminal 202 has been made is determined at stepS3106, and if the answer thereto is negative (No), the process proceedsto step S3107 to determine the command has been received, and if thecommand has been received, the process proceeds to step S3108 to sendthe command to the event control task 307, and thereafter the processreturns to step S3106 to repeat the above described process. On theother hand, if the command has not been received, the process proceedsto step S3109, where whether or not a response from the event controltask 307 has been received is determined. Then, when the answer theretois negative (No), the process returns to step S3106 to repeat the abovedescribed process, while when the answer is positive (Yes), the receivedresponse is stored in a RAM 103 and is sent to the Bluetooth controller309 at subsequent step S3110, and the process returns to step S3106.

And thereafter, when due to the case where no transmission image existsand so on, transition to the Park mode led by the intelligent terminal202 is performed, and consequently notification of the transition to thePark mode is made from the Bluetooth controller 309, the answer at stepS3106 is positive (Yes), and the process returns to step S3101, wheretransition to the command return mode J is made for the operation mode.

Furthermore, the present invention should not be limited to the abovedescribed embodiment, and the wireless state at the above describedcommand return mode is not limited to the Park mode, but may be aStandby mode in which the wireless link is opened, and other low powerconsumption modes such as Sniff Mode and Hold Mode in the Bluetoothspecification.

Also, instead of facsimile apparatuses, other image formationapparatuses such as personal computers having image communicationfunctions may be applied to the above described embodiment.

Also, for example, the image formation apparatus may comprise anelectronic mail send/receive function in addition to the above describedfunctions.

According to the above described embodiment, in the standby state,consumption of electric power and also occupation of the wirelesschannel, due to send/receive of a command to poll the state of the imageformation apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus and a responsethereto, is eliminated.

Also, since the state of low power consumption occurs automatically inthe state where no service carries out, a wireless connection processingunit goes into the low power consumption state even without depending onan arrangement and command for transition to the low power consumptionstate, thus making it possible to reduce traffic of wirelesscommunication, alleviate limitation for performing other services withother apparatuses through wireless communication, and reduce powerconsumption during the standby state.

(Second Embodiment)

The configuration of the facsimile apparatus in this embodiment is sameas that of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof isomitted.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing one example of the systemconfiguration of this embodiment. Furthermore, for configurations sameas those in FIG. 2, symbols same as those in FIG. 2 are assigned.

As shown in FIG. 18, the system of this embodiment is constituted by afacsimile apparatus 201, a plurality of intelligent terminals 202 a to202 c (three intelligent terminals in this embodiment) represented bypersonal computers (PC), the above described communication line 203, andan opposite terminal 204 (for example, facsimile apparatus, PC, etc.)connected to this communication line 203.

The facsimile apparatus 201 is connected to the communication line 203,and can communicate with the opposite terminal 204. Also, the facsimileapparatus 201 can be wirelessly connected to respective intelligentterminals 202 a to 202 c. In this embodiment, since the wireless part istreated as Bluetooth, send/receive of image data and exchange of variouskinds of data and programs can be performed with the intelligentterminals 202 a to 202 c if units for Bluetooth communication areincluded in the intelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c, respectively, orunits for Bluetooth communication are connected to the intelligentterminals 202 a to 202 c. In addition, in this embodiment, a facsimileapparatus is employed as an image processing apparatus 201, but theimage processing apparatus is not limited the facsimile apparatus, andit may be, for example, a multifunction apparatus comprising a scannerfunction and printer function, or it may be some other image processingapparatus such as an E-Mail terminal with a scanner or printer functionadded thereto, not causing departure from the nature of the presentinvention.

Also, the hierarchy of software for the facsimile apparatus 201 and thehierarchy of software for the intelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c aresimilar to the hierarchy of software described with FIGS. 3 and 4, anddescription thereof is thus omitted.

In addition, the process at the time of turning on the power of theintelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c, respectively, and the process atthe time of turning on the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 are alsosimilar to those of the embodiment described above, and thus descriptionthereof is omitted.

Furthermore, in the following description, the process at the time ofturning on the power of the intelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c iscompleted, and each of the intelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c is inthe Park mode.

FIG. 19 shows a communication flow during scan data transfer process inthe facsimile apparatus 201 in which the user sets an original andpresses a scan key to transfer the scanned original to the intelligentterminal 202 a.

The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 is in thecommand return mode during standby, and issues periodically the stateinformation acquirement command to the event control task 307 to monitorthe state of the facsimile apparatus 201.

The event control task 307 checks whether or not the state of thefacsimile apparatus has changed. In the facsimile apparatus 201, if theoriginal is set in the reader unit 107, and the scan key is pressed,display is provided for selecting a transfer destination to which thescanned image is uploaded, and the user is asked to input a transferdestination. If the user selects, for example, PC (a) (intelligentterminal 202 a) being a transfer destination, a flag indicating theexistence of an image to be scanned and PC (a) as a destination to whichthe scanned image is uploaded are stored in the RAM 103. The eventcontrol task 307 checks this area to recognize that there exists animage to be transferred to PC (a), and gives back a response ofexistence of an original for scanning and a parameter to the stateinformation acquirement command.

When receiving the response of existence of an original for scanning,the Bluetooth control task 308 recovers communication between thefacsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 a to transferthe scanned image data to the intelligent terminal 202 a. At this time,commands of request for return to Active, etc. from the intelligentterminals 202 b and 202 c are ignored.

The Bluetooth control task 308 sends a request for return to Active tothe Bluetooth controller 309 to recover the communication. The Bluetoothcontroller 309, which receives the request for return to Active,communicates with the Bluetooth controller 410 of the intelligentterminal 202 a, in accordance with the communication recovery procedureof Bluetooth. When the communication is recovered, the Bluetoothcontroller 309 gives mode change notification to the Bluetooth controltask 308. The Bluetooth control task 308, which receives the mode changenotification, makes transition from the command return mode to thecommand through mode when it determines from the contents of thenotification that the communication has been recovered, while theBluetooth task 308 maintains the state of the command return mode whenit determines that the communication cannot be recovered.

Similarly, the Bluetooth controller 410 of the intelligent terminal 202a gives mode change notification to the Bluetooth control task 409. TheBluetooth control task 409, which makes transition from the commandreturn mode to the command though mode when it determines from thecontents of the notification that the communication has been recovered,while the Bluetooth control task 409 maintains the state of the commandreturn mode and displays a message as such on the above describeddisplay unit of the intelligent terminal 202 a when it determines thatthe communication cannot be recovered.

When the communication is recovered, each of the Bluetooth control tasks308 and 409 goes into the command though mode, scan image data transferprocess is carried out with a command interface same as the interfacefor connection with cables such as a parallel interface such asCentronics (standard interface defined in IEEE 1284, etc.). The scanimage data transfer process will be described later.

When the scan image data transfer process is completed, the facsimilemanager 401 issues the state information acquirement command to thefacsimile apparatus 201. The event control task 307, which receives thestate information acquirement command, makes a search as to whether ornot a scan image exists with the flag, etc. stored in the RAM 103, andwhen the scan image exists, it gives back a response of “scan imageexisted”.

When the facsimile manager 401 determines from the response to the stateinformation acquirement command that a scan image exists, it carries outthe scan image data transfer process again, in accordance with the scanimage data transfer process described later.

If no scan image exists, the event control task 307 that receives thestate information acquirement command checks states associated with thefacsimile apparatus 201 such as the state of the printer, the state ofthe scanner and the state of the memory, and gives back a response ofnormal state.

If the facsimile manager 401 determines from the response to the stateinformation acquirement command that the state of error occurs, itdisplays a message showing the state of error on the above describeddisplay unit of the intelligent terminal 202 a, and issues periodicallythe reception information acquirement command and the state informationacquirement command to the event control task 307 until the state oferror is corrected. On the other hand, when the facsimile manager 401determines that the state of the facsimile apparatus 201 is normal, itissues periodically the state information acquirement command and thereception information acquirement command again until it makestransition to the Park mode being a power consumption mode.

The facsimile apparatus 201 makes again transition to the Park modebeing a power consumption mode when it determines that the state isnormal.

Then, the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201requests transition to the Park mode to the Bluetooth controller 309.The Bluetooth controller 309, which receives the request for transitionto the Park mode carries out procedure of transfer to the Park mode withthe Bluetooth controller 410 in accordance with the specification ofBluetooth.

When the transition procedure is completed, the Bluetooth controllers309 and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409,respectively, of the transition to the Park mode.

When receiving the notification of the transition to the Park mode, theBluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 go into command return modes,respectively.

Then, again, the command return mode is maintained until the user startsa service such as facsimile transmission, scan instruction or print inthe intelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c, or scan operation andfacsimile reception occur in the facsimile apparatus 201.

FIG. 20 shows an outline of control of transfer of commands and databetween the facsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 ain the scan image data transfer process of FIG. 19.

In the facsimile apparatus 201, when an original to be scanned is set onthe reader unit 107, and the scan key is pressed, a flag showing that anoriginal for scanning exists is set. Then, display is provided on thedisplay unit of the operation unit 108 for selecting a transferdestination to which data is uploaded and the user is asked to selectthe transfer destination. When the transfer destination is selected, thetransfer destination is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 103 asin the case of the above described flag.

If it is known that an original for scanning exists from the abovedescribed area, a response of “original for scanning existed” is givenback to the state information acquirement command from the intelligentterminal 202 a.

Then, a scan instruction command is sent from the intelligent terminal202 a, and the facsimile apparatus 201 that receives this command givesback the answer of “OK” when the reader unit 107 is operable, and givesback the answer of “NG” when the reader unit 107 is not operable. Whenthe answer to the scan instruction command is “OK”, the intelligentterminal 202 a sends a scan setup instruction command, and subsequentlya setup parameter such as read main/sub scan resolution. The facsimileapparatus 201 that receives those sends the answer of “OK” if readcontrol in accordance with the parameter is possible, while it sends theanswer of “NG” if read control in accordance with the parameter isimpossible.

If the answer of “OK” is sent, the facsimile apparatus 201 reads theoriginal with the reader unit 107, accumulates encoded data in the imagememory (DRAM) 104, and transfers image data of predetermined size fromthe image memory (DRAM) 104 to the intelligent terminal 202 togetherwith the answer of “OK” if a request for transfer of image data is madefrom the intelligent terminal 202 a. If meanwhile, an interruption by astop key (not shown) from the operation unit 108 or an error of the readsystem such as an original jam occurs, the facsimile apparatus 201 sendsthe answer of “NG”. Then, the facsimile apparatus 201 transfers originalread image data of one page, examines whether or not a next original forreading exists after transfer of one page is completed, notifies theintelligent terminal 202 a thereof, and waits for the scan setupinstruction command from the intelligent terminal 202 a if a nextoriginal for reading exists. On the other hand, if a next original forreading does not exist, the process is ended.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a scan image upload process carried outby the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201.Furthermore, the mode between the facsimile apparatus 201 and theintelligent terminal 202 a is the Park mode, and the Bluetooth controltask 308 is in the command return mode.

In FIG. 21, at step S2101, whether or not Piconet with the intelligentterminal 202 a has been eliminated by the mode change notification fromthe Bluetooth controller 309 is determined. If the Piconet has beeneliminated, sending of the command to the event control task 307 isstopped, and this scan image upload process is ended.

On the other hand, if the Piconet has not been eliminated, the processproceeds to step S2102, where whether or not a request for transition toActive is made is determined by the mode change notification from theBluetooth controller 309. If the request for return to Active is made,the process proceeds to step S2110, where transition to the commandthrough mode is made, while if the request for return to Active is notmade, the process proceeds to step S2103.

The state information acquirement command is sent to the event controltask 307 at step S2103, and a response is received at step S2104.

When the response is received, the state information included in theresponse is stored in the Bluetooth control task 308 at step S2105.

Whether or not a request for scanning is made is determined from thestored state information at step S2106, and if the request for scanningis not made, the process proceeds to S2107, where the process waits tosend the information acquirement command periodically, and thereafterthe process returns to step S2101. On the other hand, if the request forscanning is made, the process proceeds to step S2108, where theintelligent terminal (for example, intelligent terminal 202 a) that is atransfer destination is read from the stored state information, and atstep S2109, in order to make a request for return to Active to theintelligent terminal that is a transfer destination, such a request forreturn to Active is sent to the Bluetooth controller 309. Then, theprocess proceeds to step S2110, where transition is made from thecommand return mode to the command through mode.

At step S2110, whether or not a command has been received is determined,and the process proceeds to step S2116, where the command is sent to theevent control task 307 if the command has been received, and the processproceeds to step S2111 if the command has not been received.

Whether or not an image has been received is determined at step S2111,and the process proceeds to step S2117, where the image is sent to theBluetooth controller 309 if the image has been received, and the processproceeds to step S2112 if the image has not been received.

Whether or not a response has been received is determined at step S2112,and the process returns to step S2110 id the response has not beenreceived, while the process proceeds to step S2113 if the response hasbeen received.

When the response is received, the state information included in theresponse is stored in the Bluetooth control task 308 at step S2114.Then, the response received from the event control task 307 is sent tothe Bluetooth controller 309 at step S2115.

Then, whether or not upload of the scanned image has been completed isdetermined at step S2118, and the process returns to step S2110 if ithas not been completed yet, and the process proceeds to step S2119 if ithas been completed.

At step S2119, a request for transition to the Park mode is sent to theBluetooth controller 309 to make transition to the Park mode, andtransition to the command return mode is made, and the process returnsto step S2101.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a procedure of scan process that the CPU101 of the facsimile apparatus 201 carries out when the image is scannedupon request for scanning from the facsimile apparatus 201.

In FIG. 22, whether or not an original exists in the reader unit 107 isfirst detected at step S2201, and step S2201 is repeated if the originaldoes not exist, and the process proceeds to S2202 if the originalexists.

Whether or not a scan key (not shown) existing in the operation unit 108has been pressed is determined at step S2202, and the process returns tostep S2201 if it has not been pressed, and the process proceeds to stepS2203 if it has been pressed.

At step S2203, whether or not intelligent terminals connected withBluetooth exist is determined from the connection destination liststored in the RAM 103. If no connection destinations exist, the processproceeds to step S2204, where display of “transfer impossible” isprovided on the LCD display unit (not shown) of the operation unit 108,and this image scan process is ended. Furthermore, display showing thata connection destination does not exist is not limited to display by theLCD display unit, but may be the light of an error lamp, for example.

If connection destinations exist at step S2203, the process proceeds tostep S2205, where whether or not there exists only one connectiondestination is determined. If there exists a plurality of connectiondestinations, the process proceeds to step S2207, where the currentconnection destinations are displayed on the LCD display unit of theoperation unit 108, and the user is prompted to select which intelligentterminal the scanned image is to be sent to.

Then, whether or not the intelligent terminal being a transferdestination has been selected with the operation in the operation unit108 is checked at step S2208, and the process returns to step S2207 ifthe intelligent terminal being a transfer destination has not beenselected, while if the intelligent terminal being a transfer destinationhas been selected, the process proceeds to step S2209, where theselected intelligent terminal being a transfer destination is registeredbeing a transfer destination.

Then, the state information acquirement command from the Bluetoothcontrol task 308 is waited at step S2210, and when the state informationacquirement command is received, the process proceeds to step S2211,where “scan request existed” and the information of the intelligentterminal being a transfer destination are given back to the Bluetoothcontrol task 308 as a response to the state information acquirementcommand, and the above described FAX scan service process (scan imagedata transfer process) is carried out.

If there exists only one connection destination at the above describedstep S2205, the process proceeds to step S2206, where the intelligentterminal that the current transfer destination is registered being atransfer destination without carrying out processes such as display of aconnection destination, and the process proceeds to step S2210, wherethe aforesaid process is carried out.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a scan image upload process carries outby the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 a.Furthermore, the Bluetooth control task 409 is in the command returnmode in the state where no received image exists (step S2301 to stepS2303).

In FIG. 23, whether or not the state information acquirement command hasbeen received from the facsimile manager 401 is determined at stepS2301, and the process proceeds to step S2302 if it has been received,while the process proceeds to step S2303 if it has not been received.

The state information stored in the Bluetooth control task 409 is sentto the facsimile manager 401 as a response at step S2302.

At step S2303, transition to the Active mode led by the facsimileapparatus 201 is performed, and whether or not mode transitionnotification has been received is determined, and if it has not beenreceived, the process returns to step S2301, and if it has beenreceived, the process proceeds to step S2304, where transition to thecommand through mode is made.

At step S2304, transition to the Park mode led by the facsimileapparatus 201 is performed, and whether or not mode transitionnotification has been received is determined, and if it has not beenreceived, the process proceeds to step S2305, and if it has beenreceived, the process returns to step S2301, where transition to thecommand return mode is made.

At step S2305, whether or not a command has been received is determined,and if it has been received, the process proceeds to step S2306, wherethe command is sent to the Bluetooth controller 410, and if it has notbeen received, the process proceeds to step S2307.

At step S2307, whether or not an image has been received is determined,and if it has been received, the process proceeds to step S2308, wherethe image is sent to the facsimile manager 401, and if it has not beenreceived, the process proceeds to step S2309.

At step S2309, whether or not a response has been received isdetermined, and if it has been received, the process proceeds to stepS2310, and if it has not been received, the process returns to stepS2304.

At step S2310, whether or not the response is a response to the stateinformation acquirement command is determined, and if it is a responseto the state information acquirement command, the process proceeds tostep S2311, and if it is not a response to the state informationacquirement command, the process proceeds to step S2312.

At step S2311, the state information included in the response is storedin the Bluetooth control task 409, and the process proceeds to stepS2312.

At step S2312, the response is sent to the facsimile manager 401.

FIG. 24 shows a communication flow in the case where Piconet with theintelligent terminal 202 b of the intelligent terminals 202 a to 202 cto which the facsimile apparatus 210 is connected with Bluetooth toestablish Piconet is eliminated, for example because the power ofintelligent terminal 202 b is turned off, it moves to a dead spotoutside the space to which the radio wave reaches or the like.Furthermore, when transition to the Park mode is made, the facsimileapparatus 201 maintains Piconet synchronization by receiving beaconssent from each of the intelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c being masterterminals.

The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 is in thecommand return mode during standby, and issues periodically the stateinformation acquirement command and the reception informationacquirement command to the event control task 307 to monitor the stateof the facsimile apparatus 201. The event control task 307, whichreceives the state information acquirement command, checks statesassociated with the facsimile apparatus 201 such as the state of theprinter, the state of the scanner and the state of the memory, and sendsback a response as such. Also, for the reception information acquirementcommand issued by the Bluetooth control task 308, the event control task307 makes a search as to whether the received image exists in the imagemanagement record stored in the RAM 103, and sends a response as such.

Similarly, the facsimile manager 401 of the intelligent terminal 202 bis in the command return mode during standby, and issues periodicallythe state information acquirement command and the reception informationacquirement command to the Bluetooth control task 409. The Bluetoothcontrol task 409, which receives the state information acquirementcommand, sends back the stored state associated with the facsimileapparatus 201 as a response. For the reception information acquirementcommand, a search is made as to whether the received image exists in thestored image management record, and sends back a response as such.

By the way, in the case where reception of beacons becomes impossibleand the Park mode cannot be maintained because the power of theintelligent terminal 202 b is turned off, it moves to a dead spotoutside a space to which the radio wave reaches, and so on, theBluetooth controller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201 sends modechange notification of elimination of Piconet to the Bluetooth controltask 308.

The Bluetooth control task 308 receives the notification, and deletesthe intelligent terminal 202 b from the connection destination list inthe RAM 103. At this time, if other connection destination intelligentterminals (the intelligent terminal 202 a or 202 c in this embodiment),the state information acquirement command and the reception informationacquirement command are sent periodically to the event control task 307as ever. On the other hand, in the case where the intelligent terminal202 b is deleted from the connection destination list, wherebyconnection destinations no longer exist, the Bluetooth control task 308stops sending the state information acquirement command and thereception information acquirement command.

Also, the Bluetooth controller 410 in the intelligent terminal sendsmode change notification of elimination of Piconet to the Bluetoothcontrol task 409, and thereafter stops sending the state informationacquirement command and the reception information acquirement command.However, in the case where Piconet is eliminated because the power ofthe intelligent terminal is turned off, this process is not (cannot be)carried out.

The present invention should not be limited to the above describedembodiment, and the wireless state at the above described command returnmode is not limited to the Park mode, but may be a standby state inwhich the wireless link is opened, and other modes such as Sniff Modeand Hold Mode in the Bluetooth.

(Third Embodiment)

The above described each embodiment represents an example in which thePark mode is maintained when no command is exchanged between thefacsimile apparatus and the intelligent terminal, but in this case, anexample in which the Standby mode is maintained when no command isexchanged between the facsimile apparatus and the intelligent terminalwill be described. In the Standby mode referred herein, sincesynchronization of clock is not retained between the master and theslave, Piconet can no longer be retained. This embodiment will bedescribed in detail below, based on the drawings.

The image processing apparatus constituting the image processing systemof this embodiment, the configuration of the image processing system,and the hierarchy of control software thereof are similar to those ofthe above described embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 25 shows a communication flow when the image processing system ofthis embodiment is started, showing initialization process that isperformed by the intelligent terminal 202 a in concert with thefacsimile apparatus 201 when the power of any intelligent terminal (forexample, intelligent terminal 202 a) of the above described plurality ofintelligent terminals 202 a to 202 c in FIG. 18 is turned on, andprocess until transition to the standby state is made. Only aspectsdifferent from those in FIG. 5 will be described.

The process after the intelligent terminal 202 a is turned on untilprocess for connecting it to the facsimile apparatus 201 is carried outis same as that in FIG. 5. If no received image exists and the state ofthe facsimile apparatus 201 is normal after connection, the facsimileapparatus makes transition to the Standby mode. That is, the Bluetoothcontrol task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 requests transition tothe Standby mode to the Bluetooth controller 309. The Bluetoothcontroller 309, which receives the request for transition to the Standbymode, sends a Detach message to the Bluetooth controller 410 of theintelligent terminal 202 a, makes transition to the Standby mode, andnotifies the Bluetooth control task 308 of the transition to the Standbymode.

Also, the Bluetooth controller 410, which receives the Detach message,makes transition to the Standby mode, and notifies the Bluetooth controltask 409 of the transition to the Standby mode.

When the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 are notified of thetransition to the Standby mode, they make transition to the commandreturn mode, respectively.

FIG. 26 shows a communication flow during scan data transfer process.

The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 is in thecommand return mode during standby, and issues periodically the stateinformation acquirement command to the event control task 307 to monitorthe state of the facsimile apparatus 201.

The event control task 307 checks whether or not the state of thefacsimile apparatus has changed. In the facsimile apparatus 201, if theoriginal is set in the reader unit 107, and the scan key is pressed,display is provided for selecting a transfer destination to which thescanned image is uploaded, and the user is asked to input a transferdestination. If the user selects, for example, PC (a) (intelligentterminal 202 a) as a transfer destination, a flag indicating theexistence of an image to be scanned and PC (a) as a destination to whichthe scanned image is uploaded are stored in the RAM 103. The eventcontrol task 307 checks this area to recognize that there exists animage to be transferred to PC (a), and gives back a response of“original for scanning existed” to the state information acquirementcommand as a parameter.

When receiving the response of existence of an original for scanning,the Bluetooth control task 308 recovers communication between thefacsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 a to transferthe reception image data to the intelligent terminal 202 a. At thistime, commands from the intelligent terminals 202 b and 202 c areignored.

An Inquiry sending request is sent to the Bluetooth controller 309 torecover communication. The Bluetooth controller 309, which receives theInquiry sending request, carries out an Inquiry procedure in accordancewith the connection procedure of Bluetooth, and notifies the Bluetoothcontrol task 308 of the result thereof. When the Bluetooth control task308 receives the “Inquiry Result”, it determines from the contentsthereof whether or not connection to the intelligent terminal 202 a ispossible, and designates an address of the intelligent terminal 202 aand makes a connection request to the Bluetooth controller 309 when theconnection is possible.

When the Bluetooth controller 309 receives the connection request, itperforms establishment of a connection using “Serial Port Profile” forthe Bluetooth controller 410 of the intelligent terminal 202 a, based onthe specification of Bluetooth. Then, when the connection isestablished, the Bluetooth controller 309 notifies the Bluetooth controltask 308 of the result thereof.

When the Bluetooth control task 308 detects from the connection resultthat the connection could be established, it makes transition to thecommand through mode.

The Bluetooth controller 410 of the intelligent terminal 202 a alsonotifies the Bluetooth control task 409 of the connection result. Whenthe Bluetooth control task 409 ensures from the connection result thatthe connection has been established, it makes transition to the commandthrough mode.

When the communication is recovered, and each of Bluetooth control tasks308 and 409 goes into the command through mode, the scan data transferprocess is carried out as described above.

When the scan data transfer process is completed and it is determinedthat the state of the facsimile apparatus 201 is normal, the facsimileapparatus 201 makes transition to the Standby mode as described withFIG. 25, and the intelligent terminal 202 also makes transition to theStandby mode. When receiving notification of the transition to theStandby mode, each of the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 goes intothe command return mode.

The control of transfer commands and data between the facsimileapparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 a in the scan image datatransfer process is similar to the process of transfer control describedabove, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Also, the process at the time when the power of the facsimile apparatus201 is turned on is similar to that of the above described embodiment,and thus description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a procedure of power on process carriedby the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 a.

It is identical to FIG. 9 except that whether or not notification oftransition to the Standby mode, not to Park mode, has been received isdetermined at step S2711.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a procedure of scan image upload processcarried out by the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus201. Furthermore, the mode between the facsimile apparatus 201 and theintelligent terminal 202 a is the Standby mode, and the Bluetoothcontrol task 308 is in the command return mode.

At step S2801, whether or not notification of the reception of “Inquiry”is given from the Bluetooth controller 309 is determined. If theBluetooth controller 309 has received the “Inquiry”, the processproceeds to step S2807, where connection procedure is carried out withthe opposite sending the “Inquiry” based on the specification ofBluetooth. Then, whether or not the opposite sending the “Inquiry” isincluded in the connection destination list is determined at step S2808,and if it is not included in the connection destination list, theprocess proceeds to step S2809, where the opposite sending the “Inquiry”is added in the connection destination list, and the process moves tothe process of the command through mode described later. If it isincluded in the connection destination list, the process skips stepS2809 and moves to the process of the command thorough mode describedlater. On the other hand, if notification of the reception of the“Inquiry” is not given from the Bluetooth controller 309 at step S2801,the process proceeds to step S2802.

At step S2802, the state information acquirement command is sent to theevent control task 307, and at step S2803, a response is received.

When the response is received, the state information included in theresponse is stored in the Bluetooth control task 308 at step S2804.

At step S2805, whether or not a scan request is made is determined fromthe stored state information, and if the scan request is not made, theprocess proceeds to step S2806, where the process waits to send theinformation acquirement command periodically, and thereafter returns tostep S2801.

On the other hand, if the scan request is made, the process proceeds tostep S2810, where the intelligent terminal being a transfer destination(for example, intelligent terminal 202 a) is read from the stored stateinformation, and at step S2811, the Inquiry sending request is sent tothe Bluetooth controller 309 to send the “Inquiry” to the intelligentterminal being the transfer destination. Then, at step S2812, whether ornot connection has been established is determined. If the connection isestablished, the process proceeds to step S2813, where transition ismade form the command return mode to the command through mode.

If notification of the establishment of the connection is not receivedat step S2812, and the connection is unsuccessful, the process proceedsto step S2822, where notification of the unsuccessful connection ismade, and the intelligent terminal being the transfer destination isdeleted from the connection destination list, and the process returns tostep S2801.

The process steps S2813 to S2821 in the command through mode are same asthe above described steps S2110 to S2118 of FIG. 21.

At step S2821, whether or not upload of the scanned image has beencompleted is determined as in the case of step S2118, and if the uploadhas not been completed yet, the process returns to step S2813, and if ithas been completed, the process proceeds to step S2824.

At step S2824, a request for transition to the Standby mode is sent tothe Bluetooth controller 309 to make transition to the Standby mode, andtransition to the command return mode is made, and the process returnsto step S2801.

The procedure of scan process carried by the CPU 101 of the facsimileapparatus 201 when the image is scanned in response to the scan requestfrom the facsimile apparatus 201 is same as the above describedprocedure in FIG. 22, and thus description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the procedure of scan image uploadprocess carried by the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligentterminal 202 a. Furthermore, the Bluetooth control task 409 is in thecommand return mode in the state where no received image exists.

In FIG. 29, whether or not the state information acquirement command hasbeen received from the facsimile manager 401 at step S2901, and if thecommand has been received, the process proceeds to step S2902, while ifthe command has not been received, the process returns to step S2903.

At step S2902, the state information stored in the Bluetooth controltask 409 is sent to the facsimile manager 401 as a response.

Whether or not the Bluetooth controller 410 has received the “Inquiry”is determined at step S2903, and if it has not received the “Inquiry”,the process returns to step S2901, and if it has received the “Inquiry”the process proceeds to step S2904, where the connection procedure forestablishment of connection is carried out based on the specification ofBluetooth, and transition to the command through mode is made.

At step S2905, whether or not the Bluetooth controller 410 has receivedfrom the facsimile apparatus 201 a Detach command providing instructionsto make transition to the Standby mode is determined, and if it has notreceived the command, the process proceeds to step S2906, and if it hasreceived the command, the process returns to step S2901, wheretransition to the command return mode is made.

The subsequent step S2906 and the steps thereafter are same as the abovedescribed steps S2305 to S2312 in FIG. 23.

As described above, according to the above described second and thirdembodiments, it is made possible to select which information processingapparatus the scan image is transferred to, when the scan image istransferred to the information processing apparatus under the situationin which a plurality of information processing apparatuses is wirelesslyconnected to the image processing apparatus.

Also, when the situation occurs in which there is one informationprocessing apparatus that is wirelessly connected to the imageprocessing apparatus, this situation is detected, and the scan image istransferred to this information processing apparatus automatically, thusmaking it possible to transfer the scan image immediately withoutperforming needless operations.

In addition, when the situation occurs in which there is no informationprocessing apparatus that is wirelessly connected to the imageprocessing apparatus, this situation is detected, and the fact that noinformation processing apparatus to which the scan image is transferredexists is displayed before the image scanned, thus making it possible toeliminate needless scanning by the user.

Also, after instructions for scanning of the image and the selection ofthe information processing apparatus are determined, the connection modein Piconet of Bluetooth with the information processing apparatus isreturned from the power consumption mode and the state where Piconet iseliminated to the state where communication is possible, thus making itpossible to perform transfer of the scan image to the designateddestination information processing apparatus without delay, even whenthe connection to the information processing apparatus is in the powerconsumption mode and in the state where Piconet is eliminated. Also, theconnection to the information processing apparatus can go into the powerconsumption mode and the state where Piconet is eliminated, thus makingit possible to reduce wireless traffic and achieve low powerconsumption.

In addition, in Piconet with a plurality of information processingapparatuses, if the Park mode is retained with at least one informationprocessing apparatus, exchange of commands with a pseudo informationprocessing apparatus in the image processing apparatus is continued, butif Piconet with all information processing apparatuses is eliminated,the exchange of commands with the above described pseudo informationprocessing apparatus in the image processing apparatus is stopped, thusmaking it possible to prevent useless processes and alleviate loads onthe image processing apparatus.

(Fourth Embodiment)

In this embodiment, various kinds of states are displayed in thefacsimile apparatus 201 to enhance ease of use of the facsimileapparatus 201 described in the above described embodiments. Furthermore,description of operations similar to those in the above describedrespective embodiments is omitted, and different operations will bedescribed below.

FIG. 32 shows the operation unit 108 of the facsimile apparatus 201.

The operation unit 108 is constituted by various kinds of keys, an LED,an LCD, etc., by which the operator performs various kinds of inputoperations, and display of operation states of the image processingapparatus, etc. are performed.

That is, the operation unit 108 has an LCD 3201 for displaying time anddial numbers, the mode of the facsimile apparatus 201 (standby, Park,Active) in Bluetooth Piconet, etc., a ten key 3202 for performing inputof dial numbers, etc., a “start key” 3203 for starting transmission andstarting copy, and performing forced printout, a “stop key” 3204 forforced end of communication, etc., a “registration key” 3205 for variouskinds of registrations, a “one touch key” 3206 for use also in dataregistration in the case of the registration mode, and a “memory lamp”3207 that lights up when images exist in the image memory.

Furthermore, for example, since communication of Bluetooth is in theActive mode when the facsimile apparatus 201 goes into the commandthrough mode, the above described LCD 3201 displays Active mode, andswitches the display of mode from the display of Active mode to thedisplay of Park mode when the mode is changed from the command throughmode to the command return mode.

In the above described embodiment, when the facsimile apparatus is inthe state of standby (the state where there exists no original in thereader unit, and none of send/receive, scanning, printing and input ofdials and registration information are being performed), the start key3203 operates as a forced printout key. If the start key 3203 is enteredin the state where the memory lamp 3207 lights up, namely the image isstored in the image memory at standby, the image in the image memory canbe printed out.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart when the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 isturned on.

In FIG. 33, when the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 is turned on,process for initialization of the Bluetooth control task 308 isperformed at step S3301. At this time, the operation mode is set at the“command though mode”.

Then, the variable for storing existence/not existence of receivedimages, which is managed by the Bluetooth control task 308, is set at“not existence of received images”. In addition, since the facsimileapparatus 201 does not participate in Piconet of Bluetooth yet when thepower is turned on, a Bluetooth control unit 115 of the facsimileapparatus is in the Standby mode. Therefore, Standby mode is displayedon the LCD 3201 of the operation unit 108.

The above described processes are performed, and startup of theintelligent terminal 202 is waited.

FIG. 34 is flowchart showing a received image upload process of theBluetooth control task 308 in the facsimile apparatus 201 in thisembodiment. Only processes different from those in FIG. 10 will bedescribed below.

As described in FIG. 10, processes of S901 to S906 are carried out, andwhen a request for return to Active is sent to the Bluetooth controller309 at S906, whether or not the Bluetooth controller 309 has receivedmode change notification to the request for return to Active is checkedat S3401. If it has received the mode change notification, Active modeis displayed on the LCD 3201 at S3402, and the process returns to S907.In contrast, if it has not received the mode change notification, itmeans that transition to the Active mode was impossible for some reason,and thus the process is moved to a next process with the image stored inthe image memory. Therefore, at S3403, the memory lamp 3207 is lightedup, and the process returns to S901.

Thereafter, processes of S907 to S915 are carried out as in the case ofFIG. 10, and whether or not the reception information stored in theBluetooth control task 308 is “not existence of image” is determined atS915, and if it is “not existence of image”, Park mode is displayed onthe LCD 3201 and the memory ramp 3207 is lighted off at S3404, followedby proceeding to S916, where transition to the command return mode ismade. If the image exists and Mode transition notification is not madeat S915, the process returns to S907, where the command through mode iscontinued, and if the image exists and Mode transition notification ismade at S915, the process returns to S901.

According to this embodiment, since the mode of the radio unit of thefacsimile apparatus is displayed, the user can easily understand reasonswhy the wireless channel cannot be used, and so on.

Also, if the image to be transferred to the intelligent terminal remainsin the facsimile apparatus for some reason, this situation can bedisplayed in an easy-to-understand manner.

In addition, if it is found by display that the image to be transferredto the intelligent terminal remains in the facsimile apparatus for somereason, this image can be printed out forcefully.

(Fifth Embodiment)

Another embodiment will be described below.

The configurations of the facsimile apparatus and the intelligentterminal, and the configuration of software are similar to those in thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 35 shows a communication flow between the intelligent terminal 202and the facsimile apparatus 201 when the power of the intelligentterminal 202 is turned on, and this Figure shows transition of operationstates of the apparatuses 201 and 202 from initialization process to thestandby state of the apparatuses 201 and 202. At this time, the power ofthe facsimile apparatus 201 is already turned on.

When the power of the intelligent terminal 202 is turned on, theBluetooth compatible facsimile manager 401 is started up to carry outprocess for connection to the facsimile apparatus 201.

That is, the Bluetooth control task 409 sends an Inquiry sending requestto the Bluetooth controller 410 in order to ensure that the facsimileapparatus 201 being a connection destination is ready for communication.At this time, “Class of Device” information in the Inquiry command issent as a “serial communication terminal”.

When receiving the Inquiry sending request, the Bluetooth controller 410carries out “Inquiry” procedure in accordance with the connectionprocedure of Bluetooth, and notifies the Bluetooth control task 409 ofthe result (“Inquiry Result”). When the Bluetooth control task 409receives the “Inquiry Result”, it determines based on the contentsthereof whether or not connection to the facsimile apparatus 201 ispossible, and if the connection is possible, it designates the addressof the facsimile apparatus 201 and makes a connection request to theBluetooth controller 410, while if connection is not successful, or thefacsimile apparatus being a connection destination is not found from thecontents of the “Inquiry Result”, it displays a message as such on thedisplay unit (not shown) of the intelligent terminal 202.

When the Bluetooth controller 410 receives the connection request, itestablishes connection using “Serial Port Profile” to the Bluetoothcontroller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201, based on thespecification of Bluetooth. Then, when the connection is established,the Bluetooth controller 410 notifies the Bluetooth control task 409 ofthe result thereof.

When the Bluetooth control task 409 detects from the connection resultthat the connection to the facsimile apparatus 201 could be established,it sends a ready signal to the facsimile manager 401, passes directly tothe Bluetooth controller 410 the command from the facsimile manager 401,and makes transition in state to the command though mode.

Also, when the Bluetooth control task 409 receives from the connectionresult a message showing failure in establishment of connection, itdisplays the message on the above described display unit of theintelligent terminal 202.

The Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201 notifies theBluetooth control task 308 of the result of the procedure ofestablishment of the connection to the intelligent terminal 202. Whenthe Bluetooth control task 308 ensures from the result of the connectionestablishment procedure that the connection has been established, itenters the command through mode, and waits for a command from theintelligent terminal 202 to pass the command from the intelligentterminal 202 directly to the event control task 307. On the other hand,in case of failure in connection, the Bluetooth control task 308 is inthe state of standby until the connection is established.

When the facsimile manager 401 receives the Ready signal from theBluetooth control task 409, it sends to the Bluetooth control task 409 acommand for transferring to the facsimile apparatus 201 data such asdate information possessed by the intelligent terminal 202 and namesregistered in the facsimile manager 401.

The Bluetooth control task 409 transfers the received command directlyto the Bluetooth controller 410, and the Bluetooth controller 410 usesthe “serial Port profile” to transfer the command to the facsimileapparatus 201.

The Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201 sends to theBluetooth control task 308 the command sent from the intelligentterminal 202, and the Bluetooth control task 308 passes the commanddirectly to the event control task 307.

The event control task 307 analyzes the received command, and sends theresult thereof to the Bluetooth control task 308.

When the initialization process is completed in this way, the Bluetoothcontrol task 409 sends to the facsimile apparatus 201 the stateinformation acquirement command for acquiring the sate of the facsimileapparatus 201. When receiving this state information acquirementcommand, the event control task 307 checks whether or not the receivedimage exists, and states associated with the facsimile apparatus 201such as the state of the printer, the state of the scanner and the stateof the memory, and gives back information corresponding to the checkresult to the intelligent terminal 202 as a response. When the Bluetoothcontrol task 409 receives the response to the state informationacquirement command, it stores this state information, for example, in aRAM (not shown).

When storing the state information, the Bluetooth control task 409requests transition to the Park mode to the Bluetooth controller 410 inorder to enter the Park mode being one of low power consumption modes.The Bluetooth controller 410 that receives the request for transition tothe Park mode carries out procedure for transition to the Park mode,with the Bluetooth controller 309, based on the specification ofBluetooth. When the transition procedure is completed, the Bluetoothcontrollers 309 and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409,respectively, of the transition to the Park mode. When receiving thenotification of the transition to the Park mode, the Bluetooth controltasks 308 and 409 go into the command return mode, respectively.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the Park mode is selected as a lowpower consumption mode, but being not limited thereto, any one of otherlow power consumption modes, namely Sniff mode or Hold mode and modes inwhich Piconet is released may be selected.

Going into the command return mode, the Bluetooth control task 409 ofthe intelligent terminal 202 performs processes similar to those of theevent control task 307 of the facsimile apparatus 201 when connectedwith cables such as serial interfaces such as RS40132C, and parallelinterfaces such as Centronics (standard interface defined in IEEE 1284,etc.). That is, the Bluetooth control task 409 gives back a response tothe state acquirement command issued periodically from the facsimilemanager 401, based on the state information stored in the abovedescribed RAM of the intelligent terminal 202.

The Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 performsoperations similar to those of the facsimile manger 401 of theintelligent terminal 202 when connected with cables described above. TheBluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 issuesperiodically the state information acquirement command to the eventcontrol task 307 to monitor at all times the state of the facsimileapparatus 201, and whether or not the image has been received from otherfacsimile apparatuses through the communication line 203.

FIG. 36 shows a communication flow between the facsimile apparatus 201and the intelligent terminal 202, when the operation state of thefacsimile apparatus 201 is changed due to reception of the image by thefacsimile apparatus 201, and the Bluetooth control task 409 of theintelligent terminal 202 of the change of the operation state.

In FIG. 36, the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus201 is in the command return mode during standby, and issuesperiodically the state acquirement command to the event control task 307to monitor the state of the facsimile apparatus 201. The event controltask 307 searches the image management record stored in the RAM 103 asto whether or not the received image exists, and performs detection ofthe usage situation and abnormalities for the facsimile apparatus 201 tosend back state information such as existence/not existence of receivedimages, possibility/impossibility of reception,possibility/impossibility of transmission and possibility/impossibilityof scan to the Bluetooth control task 308 as a response to the stateinformation acquirement command. The Bluetooth control task 308determines from the received response whether or not the state of thefacsimile apparatus 201 has changed. If it has not changed, theBluetooth control task 308 issues periodically the state informationacquirement command to continue the monitoring of the facsimileapparatus 201. On the other hand, if the state of the facsimileapparatus 201 has changed, for example, if “not existence” of thereceived image is changed to “existence” thereof due to reception of theimage, the Bluetooth control task 308 recovers communication between thefacsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 to notify theintelligent terminal 202 of state information.

The Bluetooth control task 308 sends to the Bluetooth controller 309 arequest for return to Active to recover the communication. The Bluetoothcontroller 309, which receives the request for return to Active,communicates with the Bluetooth controller 410 of the intelligentterminal 202 in accordance with the communication recovery procedure ofBluetooth. When the communication is recovered, the Bluetooth controller309 gives mode change notification to the Bluetooth control task 308.The Bluetooth control task 308, which receives the mode changenotification, makes transition from the command return mode to thecommand through mode when it determines from the contents of thenotification that the communication has been recovered, while it retainsthe state of the command return mode as ever when it determines that thecommunication cannot be recovered.

Similarly, the Bluetooth controller 410 of the intelligent terminal 202gives mode change notification to the Bluetooth control task 409. TheBluetooth control task 409, which receives the mode change notification,makes transition from the command return mode to the command throughmode when it determines from the contents of the notification that thecommunication has been recovered, while it retains the state of thecommand return mode as ever when it determines that the communicationcannot be recovered. When the Bluetooth control task 409 that makestransition to the command through mode receives the state informationacquirement command from the facsimile manager 401, it passes the stateinformation acquirement command to the Bluetooth controller 410 to sendthe same to the facsimile apparatus 201. The event control task 307 ofthe facsimile apparatus 201 that receives the state informationacquirement command searches the image management record stored in theRAM 103 as to whether or not the received image exists, and performsdetection of the usage situation and abnormalities for the facsimileapparatus 201 to send back state information such as existence/notexistence of received images, possibility/impossibility of reception,possibility/impossibility of transmission and possibility/impossibilityof scan to the Bluetooth control task 409 as a response to the stateinformation acquirement command. The Bluetooth control task 409, whichreceives the response of the state information acquirement command,stores the received state information in a temporary area (for example,a work area of the above described RAM). The Bluetooth control task 409,which receives the state information, requests transition to the Parkmode to the Bluetooth controller 410 in order to make transition to thePark mode being a low power consumption mode, and the Bluetoothcontroller 410, which receives the request for transition to the Parkmode, carries out procedure for transition to the Park mode with theBluetooth controller 309. The Bluetooth controllers 309 and 410 notifythe Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409, respectively, of the transitionto the Park mode. When the Bluetooth control task 308 receives thenotification of the transition to the Park mode, it makes transition tothe command return mode, sends again the reception informationacquirement command periodically to the event control task 307, andmonitors the state of the facsimile apparatus 201.

Also, the Bluetooth controller 410, which receives the notification ofthe transition to the Park mode, writes in a normal area the stateinformation stored in the above described temporary area, and updatesthe state information of the facsimile apparatus 201.

In shown example, the state change is that of reception of the image,and the received image part of the state information stored by theBluetooth control task 409 is updated from “image not existed” to “imageexisted” at this time. The received image part of the response to thestate information acquirement command from the facsimile manager 401thereafter is “image existed”.

FIG. 37 shows a communication flow between the facsimile apparatus 201and the intelligent terminal 202 during received image transferprocedure for transferring reception image data to the intelligentterminal 202, when a change is made from “not existence” of the receivedimage to “existence” of the received image in the state information ofthe Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202.

As described using FIG. 36, if the facsimile apparatus 201 receives theimage, and the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal202 is notified of the fact that the received image exists, and the factis stored, after which the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligentterminal 202 receives the state information acquirement command from thefacsimile manager 401, the Bluetooth control task 409 sends back thestored state information to the facsimile manager 401 as a response. Thefacsimile manager 401 sends a reception upload command to the Bluetoothcontrol task 409 to start upload process for the received image, if itis set for uploading the received image when information of “existenceof received image” is received from the Bluetooth control task 409.

When the Bluetooth control task 409 receives the reception uploadcommand, it determines from the stored state information of thefacsimile apparatus 201 whether or not reception upload is possible. Ifthe received image part of the state information is “image not existed”,the Bluetooth control task 409 determines that reception upload is notpossible, and sends a response of “NG” directly to the facsimile manager401 without sending a command to the facsimile apparatus 201. On theother hand, if the received image part of the state information is“image existed”, the Bluetooth control task 409 determines thatreception upload is possible, and requests return to the Active modeenabling communication from the Park mode being a low power consumptionmode, to the Bluetooth controller 410 so that communication with thefacsimile apparatus 201 can be performed.

The Bluetooth controller 410, which receives the request for return tothe Active mode, carries out communication recovery procedure ofBluetooth, with the Bluetooth controller 309. When the communication isrecovered, the Bluetooth controller 309 gives mode change notificationto the Bluetooth control task 308, and the Bluetooth control task 308that receives the mode change notification makes transition to thecommand though mode. Also, the Bluetooth controller 410 gives modechange notification to the Bluetooth control task 409, and the Bluetoothcontrol task 409 that receives the mode change notification makestransition to the command though mode, and sends to the facsimileapparatus 201 the reception upload command previously received from thefacsimile manager 401.

The event control task 307, which receives the reception upload command,sends back a response of “OK” to the intelligent terminal 202 becausethe received image exists.

When each of the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 goes into thecommand though mode in this way, the reception image data transferprocedure is carried out using the “Serial Port Profile” based on thespecification of Bluetooth, by the command interface same as that whenconnected with cables such as serial interfaces such as RS40132C, andparallel interfaces such as Centronics (standard interface defined inIEEE 1284, etc.) Furthermore, control of transfer of commands and databetween the facsimile apparatus 201 and the intelligent terminal 202 inthe reception image data transfer procedure is similar to that in FIG. 7described above.

When the reception image data transfer procedure is completed, theBluetooth control task 409 sends the state information acquirementcommand to the facsimile apparatus 201 for synchronization with theoperation sate of the facsimile apparatus 201. The event control task307 that receives the state information acquirement command checks stateinformation such as existence/not existence of received image, andpossibility/impossibility of transmission/reception/scan, and sends thesame to the intelligent terminal 202 as a response.

The Bluetooth control task 409 stores the received state information.The Bluetooth control task 409 that receives the state informationdetermines that a series of processes have been completed, and requeststransition to the Park mode being a low power consumption mode to theBluetooth controller 410 to return to the stationary state. TheBluetooth controller 410 that receives the request for transition to thePark mode carries out procedure for transition to the Park mode with theBluetooth controller 309, in accordance with the specification ofBluetooth.

When the transition procedure is completed, the Bluetooth controllers309 and 410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409,respectively, of the transition to the Park mode.

When the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 receive the notification ofthe transition to the Park mode, each of them goes into the commandreturn mode.

FIG. 38 shows a communication flow between the facsimile apparatus 201and the intelligent terminal 202, when the image data stored in theintelligent terminal 202 is transferred to the facsimile apparatus 201,and the facsimile apparatus 201 performs facsimile transmission to adesignated destination.

In the shown example, the facsimile apparatus 201 is in the sate wheretransmission is possible, and the transmission possible/impossible partof the state information stored by the Bluetooth control task 409 of theintelligent terminal 202 through the process described using FIG. 36 istransmission possible. At this time, when a transmission instructionoperation is done to the facsimile manager 401, the facsimile manager401 sends the transmission instruction command to the Bluetooth controltask 409.

When the Bluetooth control task 409 receives the transmissioninstruction command being an operation instruction request, itdetermines from the stored state information whether or not transmissioncan be performed. When the transmission possible/impossible part of thestate information is “impossible”, the Bluetooth control task 409 sendsa response of “NG” directly to the facsimile manager 401 without sendinga command to the facsimile apparatus 201, and the facsimile manager 401displays “transmission impossible” when it receives the response of“NG”. When the transmission possible/impossible part of the stateinformation is “possible” the Bluetooth control task 409 sends to theBluetooth controller 410 a request for return to Active to communicatewith the facsimile apparatus 201.

The Bluetooth controller 410, which receives the request for return toActive, communicates with the Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimileapparatus 201 in accordance with the communication recovery procedure ofBluetooth. When the communication is recovered, the Bluetooth controller410 sends mode change notification to the Bluetooth control task 409.When the Bluetooth control task 409, which receives the mode changenotification, determines from the contents thereof that thecommunication has been recovered, it sends the transmission instructioncommand to the facsimile apparatus 201, and thereafter makes transitionfrom the command return mode to the command through mode.

When it is determined from the contents of the mode change notificationthat the communication cannot be recovered, or no response is given fromthe Bluetooth controller 410 for a predetermined time period or more,the Bluetooth control task 409 retains the state of the command returnmode as ever, and sends the answer of “NG” to the facsimile manager 401.When the facsimile manager 401 receives the answer of “NG”, it displayson the display unit a message showing that a transmission service isimpossible.

Similarly, the Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201sends mode change notification to the Bluetooth control task 308. Whenthe Bluetooth control task 308, which receives the mode changenotification, determines from the contents thereof that thecommunication has been recovered, it makes transition from the commandreturn mode to the command through mode, and goes into the state ofwaiting for a command from the intelligent terminal 202. On the otherhand, when it is determined that the communication cannot be recovered,the Bluetooth control task 308 retains the sate of the command returnmode as ever.

The event control 307 that receives the transmission instruction commandsends a response of “OK” to the intelligent terminal 202 when it ensuresthat the facsimile apparatus 201 is not currently under communication,and is not full of reservations for transmission, while it sends aresponse of “NG” when these conditions are not satisfied.

When the facsimile manager 401 receives the response of “OK” from thefacsimile apparatus 201, it carries out transmission image data transferprocedure by the command interface same as that when connected withcables such as serial interfaces such as RS40132C, and parallelinterfaces such as Centronics (standard interface defined in IEEE 1284,etc.). Furthermore, the transmission image data transfer procedure issimilar to that in FIG. 14 described above, and thus description thereofis omitted.

When the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202determines that transmission has been completed, it sends the stateinformation acquirement command to the facsimile apparatus 201, andstores the state information included in the response, whereby thestored state information is made to follow the state change of thefacsimile apparatus 201 after operation instruction. When receiving thisresponse, the Bluetooth control task 409 requests transition to the Parkmode to the Bluetooth controller 410 to make transition of communicationwith the facsimile apparatus 201 to the Park mode being a low powerconsumption mode again. The Bluetooth controller 410, which receives therequest for transition to the Park mode, carries out procedure fortransition to the Park mode based on the specification of Bluetooth,with the Bluetooth controller 309 of the facsimile apparatus 201. Whenthe transition procedure is completed, the Bluetooth controllers 309 and410 notify the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409, respectively, of thetransition to the Park mode. When the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and409 receive the notification of the transition to the Park mode, each ofthem makes transition to the command return mode.

Again, the command return mode is retained until the user starts aservice such as facsimile transmission, scan or print at the intelligentterminal 202, or the state of the facsimile apparatus 201 changes.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a procedure of power on process carriedout by the Bluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 inthis embodiment.

When the power of the facsimile apparatus 201 is turned on, the processin FIG. 39 is started, and initialization process of the Bluetoothcontrol task 308 is performed (step S3901). Process of transition of theoperation mode to the command through mode is also included in thisinitialization process. The facsimile apparatus 201 completes thisinitialization process, and waits the startup of the intelligentterminal 202 in the state where the operation mode is the commandthrough mode.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a procedure of power on process carriedby the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202.

When the power of the intelligent terminal 202 is turned on, thefacsimile manager 401 is started, and the Bluetooth control task 409sends “Inquiry” to the Bluetooth controller 410 at step S4001.

At step S4002, whether or not the facsimile apparatus 201 responded tothe sent “Inquiry” is determined, and if it responded normally, theprocess proceeds to step S4004, and if it did not respond normally, theprocess proceeds to step S4003.

At step S4003, the display unit of the intelligent terminal 202 isnotified of the fact that there exists no facsimile apparatus that canbe connected, followed by ending this process.

At step S4004, a connection request is sent to the Bluetooth controller410, and the process proceeds to step S4005.

At step S4005, a response to the connection request is waited, and whennotification of “failure in connection request” is given from theBluetooth controller 410, the process proceeds to step S4006, and whennotification of “success in connection” is given, the process proceedsto step S4007.

At step S4006, the display unit of the intelligent terminal 202 isnotified of the failure in connection to the facsimile apparatus 201,followed by ending this process.

At step S4007, “Ready” showing that connection to the facsimileapparatus 201 could be done is transmitted to the facsimile manager 401,and the process proceeds to step S4008, where transition to the commandthrough mode is made. At this time, the command through mode is anoperation mode in which when the Bluetooth control task 409 receives acommand from the facsimile manager 401, this command is sent to theBluetooth controller 410, and when a response is received from theBluetooth controller 410, this response is sent to the facsimile manager401.

When the facsimile manager 401 receives the above described Readysignal, it uses “Serial Port Profile” to carry out the initializationprocess between the facsimile manager 401 and the event control task 307of the facsimile apparatus 201.

At step S4009, completion of the initialization process is waited, andwhen the initialization process is completed, the process proceeds tostep S4010.

The Bluetooth control task 409 sends the reception informationacquirement command at step S4010, and a response to the command isreceived, and state information included therein is stored at stepS4011. At step S4012, transition to the Park mode is requested to theBluetooth controller 410 to make transition of communication with thefacsimile apparatus 201 to the Park mode being a low power consumptionmode. At step S4013, whether or not notification of transition to thePark mode has been received is determined, and if the transitionnotification has not been received, the process proceeds to Step S4012,where the request for transition to the Park mode is made again. At thistime, error display may be provided to end the process after severalretries.

If the notification of transition to the Park mode has been received,the process proceeds to step S4014 to make transition to the commandreturn mode, and notification of this power on process is given.

Furthermore, the command return mode of the Bluetooth control task 409will be described later using FIG. 42.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a procedure of process carried out by theBluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201. According tothis flowchart, all of “notification of state change” of FIG. 36,“received image upload” of FIG. 37 and “transmission service” of FIG. 38can be explained.

In FIG. 41, the Bluetooth control task 308 is in the command return modein the state of standby, and the mode between the facsimile apparatus201 and the intelligent terminal 202 is the Park mode being a low powerconsumption mode. In the command return mode, the state informationacquirement command is sent to the event control task 307 at step S4101at the interval of wait at step S4106, a response thereto is waited atstep S4102, and state information is stored at step S4103 when theresponse is received.

First, “notification of state change” will be described.

Whether or not state information has changed from the state informationstored theretofore is determined (step S4104) to know whether or not thestate of the facsimile apparatus 201 has changed, and if it has changed,the process proceeds to step S4106 to notify the intelligent terminal202 of the state information. At step S4106, return to the Active modeis requested to the Bluetooth controller 309 so that communication withthe intelligent terminal 202 can be performed.

When communication with the intelligent terminal 202 becomes possible,transition to the command through mode is made, and each of checks atstep S4108, step S4110 and step S4114 is repeated. In the commandthrough mode, as suggested by its name, the command and data receivedfrom the Bluetooth controller 310 at step S4108 are sent to the eventcontrol task 307 (step S4109), and the response and data received fromthe event control task 307 are sent to the Bluetooth controller 310(step S4113).

A request for return to Active is made from the facsimile apparatus 201only in the case of the “notification of state change”, and theintelligent terminal 202 sends the state information acquirement commandfor this request. When the facsimile apparatus 201 sends back a responseof this command, this is detected at step S4111, and the stateinformation included in the response is stored (step S4112), followed bysending the same to the intelligent terminal 202. When the intelligentterminal 202 receives the response of this command, it requeststransition of the operation mode to the Park mode. When the transitionto the Park mode is completed, the Bluetooth control task 308 is givenmode change notification, and thus detects this at step S4114, andreturns to the command return mode to go into the standby state.

The “notification of state change” process of the facsimile apparatus201 has been described above, and if the state of the facsimileapparatus 201 changes, both the Bluetooth control task 308 of thefacsimile apparatus 201 and the Bluetooth control task 409 of theintelligent apparatus 202 are notified of the change of the state.

The case will now be described where “received image upload” and“transmission instruction command”, namely “operation instructionrequest command” are sent from the intelligent terminal 201.

Before sending “operation instruction request command”, the intelligentterminal 201 requests return to Active. When the facsimile apparatus 201receives the request for return to Active, procedure for return toActive is carried out between the Bluetooth controllers 309 and 410.When returning to the Active mode, the Bluetooth controller 309 sendsmode change notification to the Bluetooth control task 308. When theBluetooth control task 308 of the facsimile apparatus 201 receives themode change notification in the standby state, namely in the commandreturn mode, it detects this notification at step S4105, and proceeds tostep S4107 to make transition to the command through mode.

After transition to the command through mode, the command and data sentfrom the intelligent terminal 202 are received from the Bluetoothcontroller 309 at step S4108, and are sent to the event control task 307at step S4109, and the response and data thereto are received from theevent control task 307 at step S4110 and are sent to the Bluetoothcontroller 309 at step S4113. Thereby, a series of commands and data ofrequested operations can be exchanged between the facsimile manager 401of the intelligent terminal 202 and the event control task 307 of thefacsimile apparatus 201.

When this process is completed, the state information acquirementcommand is sent from the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligentterminal 202 to update the state information. When the event controltask 307 sends a response thereto to the Bluetooth control task 308,this response is detected at step S4111, and is stored at step S4112. Bythis process, the Bluetooth control task 308 can store the latest stateinformation after requested operation.

When the Bluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202receives the response to the state information acquirement command, itrequests transition to the Park mode to the Bluetooth controller 410,and procedure for transition to the Park mode is carried out between theBluetooth controllers 309 and 410. When the transition to the Park modeis completed, mode change notification is sent from the Bluetoothcontroller 309 to the Bluetooth control task 308. The Bluetooth controltask 308 detects this notification at step S4114, and returns to thecommand return mode to go into the standby state.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a procedure of process carried out by theBluetooth control task 409 of the intelligent terminal 202 according tothis flowchart, all of the operations of “notification of state change”of FIG. 36, “received image upload” of FIG. 37 and “transmissionservice” of FIG. 38 can be explained.

In FIG. 42, the Bluetooth control task 409 is in the command return modein the state of standby, the mode between the facsimile apparatus 201and the intelligent terminal 202 is the Park mode being a low powerconsumption mode. Commands that are sent form the facsimile manager 401in the state of standby include two commands, namely the “stateinformation acquirement command” to acquire state information of thefacsimile apparatus 201, and the “operation instruction command” such asthe “received image upload command” and “transmission instructioncommand” to provide instructions to the facsimile apparatus 201 foroperations.

When receiving the “state information acquirement command” at stepS4204, the Bluetooth control task 409 creates a response with the storedstate information, and sends the response to the facsimile manager 401at step S4205.

The state information that is used at this time is the information thatwas transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 201 when connection to thefacsimile apparatus 201 was recovered, and was stored. If the state ofthe facsimile apparatus 201 changes, a request for return to Active fromthe facsimile apparatus 201 to provide notification thereof. When returnto the “Active” state is made, mode change notification is sent from theBluetooth controller 410 to the Bluetooth control task 409.

When the Bluetooth control task 409 receives the request for return toActive from the facsimile apparatus 201, it detects the mode changenotification at step S4206 to check whether or not the state of thefacsimile apparatus 201 has changed, and then sends the stateinformation acquirement command to the Bluetooth controller 410 at stepS4207. At step S4208, response from the facsimile apparatus 201 iswaited, and when the response is received, the state information isstored at step S4209. When the update of the state information iscompleted, transition to the Park mode is requested to make transitionto the state of standby at step S4210.

The case will now be described where the “operation instruction command”such as the “received image upload command” and “transmissioninstruction command” is sent from the facsimile manager 401.

When the “operation instruction command” is received at step S4201, theBluetooth control task 409 determines from the stored state informationof the facsimile apparatus 201 whether or not execution of the operationfor which instructions are provided is possible at step S4202. If it isdetermined that execution is not possible, a response of “NG” is sent tothe facsimile manager 401 at step S4203 without sending the “operationinstruction command” to the facsimile apparatus 201. On the other hand,if it is determined that execution is possible, a request for return to“Active” is sent to the Bluetooth controller 410 at step S4211, and whenreturn to “Active” is made, transition to the command through mode ismade, and the operation instruction command is sent to the Bluetoothcontroller 410 at step S4212.

In the command through mode, a series of command and data of instructionoperations received from the facsimile manager 401 at step S4213 aresent to the Bluetooth controller 410 at step S4214, and the response anddata received from the Bluetooth controller 410 at step S4215 are sentto the facsimile manager 401 at step S4216.

At this time, when exchange of a series of commands, responses and dataof instruction operations is completed, this completion is detected atstep S4217, and the process proceeds to step S4207.

The state information acquirement command is sent to the Bluetoothcontroller 410 at step S4207, a response is received at step S4208,state information is stored at step S4209, transition to the Park modeis requested to the Bluetooth controller 410 at step S4210, andtransition to the command return mode is made to return to the standbystate.

In this way, the state information of the facsimile apparatus 201 isstored in the Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409 by the processesdescribed using FIGS. 39 and 40 when the power is turned on, the stateinformation stored in the respective Bluetooth control tasks 308 and 409is updated to the changed state by the processes described using FIGS.41 and 42 when the state of the facsimile apparatus changes, for examplewhen an image is received or a scan button is pressed, a response issent back with the stored state information without sending the commandto the facsimile apparatus 201 by the process described using FIG. 42when the “state information acquirement command” is sent from thefacsimile manager 401 to the Bluetooth control task 409, and a “NG”response is sent back to the facsimile manager 401 without sending thecommand to the facsimile apparatus 201 if execution of operation is notpossible, and the operation instruction command is sent to the facsimileapparatus 201 if execution of operation is possible, by the processesdescribed using FIGS. 41 and 42, when the “operation instructioncommand” such as the “received image upload command” and “transmissioninstruction command” is sent from the facsimile manger 401 to theBluetooth control task 409, thus making it possible to reduce powerconsumption without occupying the radio channel.

As described above, also in this embodiment, it is made possible toreduce power consumption by send/receive of commands to poll the stateof the image processing apparatus and responses thereto, withoutoccupying the radio channel.

(Sixth Embodiment)

<Configuration of Entire Apparatus>

FIG. 43 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus FS1 that is oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing the facsimile apparatus FS1.

The facsimile apparatus FS1 is constituted by a cordless hand scanner430 and a main part B, has a function to satisfy ITU-T Recommendation G3Specification, is capable of color reading and color recording, and hasa color copy function and a function of sending/receiving color images.The cordless hand scanner 430 is a detachable scanner.

The cordless hand scanner 430 is a cordless hand scanner that is totallyseparated from the main part B and is capable of reading.

In the facsimile apparatus FS1, as shown in FIG. 44, a paper guide 4401has a guide mechanism that is set in accordance with the wide of thepaper. The record sheet is inserted from a paper inlet 4402, theoriginal guide 4403 is set in accordance with the wide of the original,and the original guide 4403 has a position sensor added thereto anddetects the size of the original depending on the set position of theoriginal.

When taking out originals/record sheets which are inserted from anoriginal inlet 4404, transported and then jam in the equipment, and whenexchanging a cartridge of the printer unit, a top cover 4405 can beopened in upper direction. A top cover unit includes an operation panelin main part and a handset plate.

A handset 4318 is used during a telephone conversation. A contact colorimage sensor CIS (Contact Image Sensor) 4303 in the cordless handscanner 430 is a contact color image sensor with read wide of B4 andmain scan direction read resolution of 8 pel/mm, which outputs each RGBcolor in line order, and can be taken out from the main part B when thetop cover is opened.

An original outlet 4409 ejects the original that is sheet-read in themain part B. A paper outlet 4410 ejects the record sheet printed by theprinter unit 4325.

FIG. 45 is a plan view showing an operation panel in main part 4324 inthis embodiment.

In the operation panel in main part 4324, a function button 4501 is abutton that is used when setting and recording is started, a recordingbutton 4502 is a button that is used when memorized voice is recorded,and a playback button 4503 is a button that is used when one hears voicerecorded in absence and memorized voice. An erase button 4504 is abutton that is used when recorded voice in absence and memorized voiceand facsimile are erased from the memory, and a telephone directory/setbutton 4505 is a button that is used when a setting is fixed in the casewhere dialing is performed with the telephone directory.

A left/right button 4506 is a button that is used when letters areentered in the case where a function item is selected, an up/down button4507 is a button that is used when the function item is displayed andwhen a volume is adjusted in the case where the telephone directory issearched, a loudspeaker tel button 4509 is a button that is used when aconversation is held without picking up a receiver, and a microphone4510 is a microphone that is used when a conversation is held withoutpicking up a receiver.

A stop button 4511 is a button that is used when operations such asfacsimile transmission/reception, copy, playback and setting arestopped, and when operation is stopped in progress, a copy button 4512is a button that is used when copy is performed, and an image qualitybutton 4513 is a button that is used when small letters and photographsare sent. A reception/print button 4514 is a button that is used when afacsimile message is received and printed, a transmission button 4515 isa button that is used when a facsimile message is sent, and color/blackand white button 4516 is a button that is used when the color mode ofcopy and facsimile is switched.

A color lamp 4517 lights up when the color mode is selected. A display4518 has a current state and a registration menu displayed thereon, anda date, time and the number of recorded voices in absence are usuallydisplayed thereon.

FIG. 46 is a top view of the cordless hand scanner 430 after it is takenout from the main part B of the facsimile apparatus FS1.

Furthermore, the surface shown in FIG. 46 is a top surface when thecordless hand scanner 430 is used, and is an undersurface when thecordless hand scanner 430 is attached to the main part B.

The cordless hand scanner 430 has a scanner operation panel 4307. In thescanner operation panel 4307, a “liquid crystal LCD” 4601 has variousinformation of the hand scanner 430 displayed thereon. Furthermore, asvarious information of the hand scanner 430, the memory level, readwide, Bluetooth link state, read speed, image color information and thelike can be considered.

A “start/decision” button 4602 is a button that is used when reading isstarted or stopped (completed establishment), and is selected by thefunction menu and used when decision is made.

A “stop/cancellation” button 4603 is a button when reading is stopped,and selection by the function menu is canceled. A “function” button 4604is a button when transition is made from a waiting state to a functionmenu for performing erase of images and facsimile transmission, copy andthe like. An “up/down/left/right cursor” button 4605 is a button that isused during selection operation in the function menu.

FIG. 47 is a bottom view showing the cordless hand scanner 430 taken outfrom the main part B of the facsimile apparatus FS1.

Furthermore, the surface shown in FIG. 47 is an undersurface duringusage, and is a top surface when the cordless hand scanner 430 isattached to the main part B.

In the cordless hand scanner 430, as the surface shown in FIG. 47 slideson the original, a roller 4701 rotates and a rotary encoder unit (notshown) detects rotation information. A contact sensor glass face 4702intimately contacts the original, and reads image information opticallyby an image sensor placed on the undersurface of the glass face 4702.

The cordless hand scanner 430 in the facsimile apparatus FS1 will now bedescribed.

The cordless hand scanner 430 constitutes the facsimile apparatus FS1,together with the main part B.

As shown in FIG. 43, the cordless hand scanner 430 has a first CPU 4300having a function for subjecting digital image data to JPEGcompression/expansion by middleware, a first ROM 4301 storing variouskinds of programs of the first CPU 4300 and fixed data, a first RAM 4302that is used as a work memory of various kinds of programs of the firstCPU 4300 and an accumulation memory of image data in the cordless handscanner 430, etc., and a contact color image sensor CIS (Contact ImageSensor) 4303 that reads image data in line unit.

The contact color image sensor CIS 4303 includes therein LED arrays ofred (R), green (G) and blue (B), and is synchronized with a timingsignal to output a video signal when a read timing signal is inputted.

An image processing unit 4304 is an image processing unit that outputsthe read timing signal to the CIS 4303, and subjects to A/D conversionthe video signal outputted by the CIS 4303, and then performs shadingcorrection and gamma conversion of brightness/concentration to makeconversion into digital multiple value/binary data, and performs scalingand resolution conversion of images. Image data converted into digitaldata is stored in the first RAM 4302, and is thereafter sent to the mainpart B via the wireless line as necessary.

A main body interface 4305 is constituted by a connector connected tothe main part B, and a battery 4308 is charged through this connector.

A detection output unit 4306 is a detection output unit of the rotaryencoder monitoring the rotation state of the read roller of the cordlesshand scanner 430, and during reading, the first CPU 4300 calculates dataof movement distance of the cordless hand scanner 430 (information ofthe number of rotations of the rotary encoder) from the above describeddetection output, and reading of the image is performed by the imageprocessing unit 4304.

The scanner operation panel 4307 is constituted by the liquid crystaldisplay unit having the state of the cordless hand scanner 430 andvarious kinds of data displayed thereon, and a key entry unit for makingvarious kinds of settings such as selection of a read mode and erase ofimages in the memory.

The battery 4308 is a battery to drive the entire system of the cordlesshand scanner 430 when the cordless hand scanner 430 is taken out fromthe main part B and used alone, and is always supplied with electricpower from the main part B and charged when the cordless hand scanner430 is attached to the main part B.

The wireless interface unit is constituted by a Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit 4309 and a frequency unit 4310 of 2.4 GHz band, is awireless interface unit of the cordless hand scanner 430 and the mainpart B, performs wireless communication based on the Bluetoothspecification between the main part B and the cordless hand scanner 430to send/receive a packet, and is constituted by a command/responseinterface for designating an operation mode and exchanging stateinformation, and an image data interface for exchanging image data intwo directions, wherein the main part B is a master and a cordless handscanner 430 is a slave.

Bluetooth baseband processing unit 4309 is a Bluetooth baseband unitcarrying out frequency hopping process of Bluetooth and process ofassembly and decomposition of frames. Also, the frequency unit 4310 of2.4 GHz sends and receives radio waves.

The main part B in this embodiment will now be described.

The main part B has a second CPU 4311 being a control unit thereof, asecond ROM 4312 storing various kinds of programs of the second CPU 4311and fixed data, and an SRAM 4313 registering and recording registrationdata needed for the system (various kinds of soft switches,communication destination data, ID information such as the telephonenumber and abbreviation of the apparatus). The SRAM 4313 is backed upwith a primary battery 4326 so that the data is not lost by shutdown ofthe main power supply.

A printer image processing unit 4314 performs image processing requiredby the main part B, such as binarization process of convertingmulti-valued image data into a binary image and scaling of images,performs resolution conversion for converting the resolution of imagedata into the resolution of the printer 4325, 360 dpi, and transfersprint data to the color printer. The second RAM 4315 is used as a workmemory of various kinds of programs, and an accumulation memoryaccumulating voice data, image data, etc. in the main part B. For thesecond RAM 4315, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory is assumedhere.

A modem 4316 is a modem for performing facsimile transmission with aknown G3 mode, etc., and comprises a DTMF signal recognition function,and a voice codeck function for recording voice in the second RAM 4315and playing back voice from the second RAM 4315, in addition to V. 29,V. 21 and V. 27 ter.

During facsimile transmission, a monochrome image and color image aretransmitted at the maximum transmission speed of 9600 bps, in accordancewith ITUT Recommendation G3 Specification. For transmission of colorimages, color images can be transmitted in a “specific mode” shared bysuch apparatuses with one another, in addition to G3 specification(hereinafter referred to as “ITU-T color mode”).

The “specific mode” here means, for example, color communication usingBFT (Binary File Transfer) as described later. For color communicationby G3 Specification, 200 dpi of main/sub resolution and JPEG coding inthe Lab color space are required as an image standard on thetransmission pass. Also, for color communication in the specific mode, afunction of 90 dpi of main/sub resolution and DPCM coding in the RGBcolor space is held for the image.

The operation panel in main part 4324 is constituted by a key entry unitfor performing dial operations and providing various kinds of operationinstructions, and making various kinds of settings, a liquid crystaldisplay unit having the state of the apparatus and various kinds of datadisplayed thereon, and a LED. A speaker 4319 outputs various kinds ofalarm sounds and calling sounds, and audio signals on the line. An NCU4320 acts as an interface of the analog telephone line and theapparatus. The handset 4318 has a voice input/output unit for using thisapparatus to hold a conversation. A connection switch for analog signals(cross point switch) 4317 is a known circuit that freely switches analogsignal connection among a handset, a speaker, an NCU and a modemaccording to setting from the second CPU 4311.

The color printer 4325 is a known color printer of ink discharge typebeing the printer unit of this apparatus, and records binary data on therecord sheet in record resolution of 360 dpi while making a cartridgehaving an ink tank and an ink discharge combined move in the main scandirection of the record sheet.

There are color cartridges having the ink tank of respective CMYK colorsand the ink discharge unit combined, and monochrome cartridges havingthe ink tank of only monochrome ink and the ink discharge unit combined,and which of the color cartridge and monochrome cartridge is insertedcan be determined by the second CPU 4311 from the configuration ofelectric contacts of the above described cartridge.

The record wide during monochrome recording is B4 at the maximum, themaximum record wide is A4 during color recording when the colorcartridge is inserted.

The primary battery 4326 is a primary battery providing battery backupto registration data of the SRAM 4313 and the operation of the IC 4327for clocks. The RTC 4327 is an IC for clocks that can count time by asecond and can operate even when main power supply is shut down, and ascanner interface connector 4323 is a scanner interface connectorproviding a channel for supplying electric power from the main part B tothe cordless hand scanner 430, and detecting attachment/nonattachment ofthe hand scanner 430.

The wireless interface unit is constituted by the Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit 4321 and the high frequency unit 4322 of 2.4 GHz band,is a wireless interface unit of the cordless hand scanner 430 and themain part B, and carries out wireless communication based on theBluetooth specification between the main part B and the cordless handscanner 430 to transmit packets. Also, it is constituted by acommand/response interface, etc. for designating an operation mode andexchanging state information.

A Bluetooth baseband processing unit 4321 is a Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit carrying out frequency hopping process of Bluetooth andprocess of assembly and decomposition of frames. Also, a frequency unit4322 of 2.4 GHz sends and receives radio waves.

<Initialization Operation of Cordless Hand Scanner 430>

The initialization operation of the cordless hand scanner 430 in thisembodiment will now be described.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing an initialization operation when thepower of the cordless hand scanner 430 is turned on.

First, a work area in the first RAM 4302 shown in FIG. 43 is initialized(S4801), and then peripheral hardware is initialized (S4802).Thereafter, each task controlled by the OS is initialized (S4803), theimage memory in the first RAM 4302 is initialized (S4804), andsubsequently the Bluetooth control task is initialized (S4805) to gointo the state of waiting the link establishment of Bluetooth (S4806).

In this condition, when an Inquiry command based on the Bluetoothspecification is received from the main part B, the ID number of themain part B in the command (Bluetooth device address) is compared withthe ID number of the connectable main part B stored in advance(Bluetooth device address) (S4807). If the result of this comparisonshows that they match each other, an Inquiry Response including anInquiry access code of the hand scanner is sent to the main part B(S4808).

Then, when a Paging message (wireless connection request signal)including the device access code of the hand scanner 430 is receivedfrom the main part B (S4809), a wireless connection response signal issent to the main part B (S4810) to establish a wireless link.Furthermore, the link type that is used in this embodiment is anasynchronous connectionless link (ACL). Unless an effective command isreceived from the main part B within a predetermined time period afterthe establishment of the wireless link, the Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit 4309 and the 2.4 GHz high frequency unit 4310 enters thePark mode (S4811).

Furthermore, the “Park mode” is a low power consumption standby state inwhich the connection of Bluetooth remains established.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for transition to thePark mode of the hand scanner 430.

As described with FIG. 48, after the wireless link is establishedbetween the hand scanner 430 and the main part B, the hand scanner 430sends a Park_req message to the main part B (S4903) to make transitionto the Park mode unless it receives an effective command from the mainpart B for a certain time period (thirty seconds in this embodiment)(S4901, S4902). If a Not_accepted message showing that transition is notpermitted is received from the main part B (S4904), return to thecommand standby state is made (S4901). Also, if a Park message showingthat transition is permitted is received from the main part B (S4905),transition to the Park mode is made (S4906).

<Initialization Operation of Main Part B>

An initialization operation of the main part B in this embodiment willnow be described.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing the initialization operation of the mainpart B.

When the power of the main part B is turned on, a power on operation isperformed in the following procedure.

When the main power supply is turned on (S5001), the work RAM isinitialized (S5002), and peripheral hardware is initialized (S5003).Thereby, the display of the operation panel in main part 4324 isinitialized.

Then, backup data in the SRAM 4313, and the image memory and the voicememory in the second RAM are checked (S5004). Subsequently, theBluetooth control task is initialized (S5005), and an Inquiry commandincluding the Inquiry access code of the main part B is sent toestablish the link of Bluetooth with the cordless hand scanner 430(S5006).

At this time, if the cordless hand scanner 430 is in the state ofwaiting establishment of the link of Bluetooth, an Inquiry Responseincluding the Inquiry access code of the cordless hand scanner 430 issent. If the Inquiry Response is received within a predetermined timeperiod (S5007 to S5008), the main part B compares the Inquiry accesscode of the connectable hand scanner stored in advance with the receivedID number (S5009), and makes transition to the Paging mode if thecomparison result shows that they match each other.

That is, the device access code of the cordless hand scanner 430 isdesignated, and wireless connection using the Serial Port Profile isrequested based on Bluetooth connection standard (S5010).

When a response signal to the wireless connection request is receivedfrom the cordless hand scanner 430 (S5011), the link of Bluetooth(Piconet) is established between the main part B and the cordless handscanner 430, and thus a scanner interface initialization process shownin FIG. 53 and described later is carried out (S5102). After the scannerinterface initialization procedure is carried out, a Park message issent to make the cordless hand scanner 430 being a slave go into thestandby state of low power consumption (Park mode) with the connectionof Bluetooth established as ever, and the initialization operation isended (S5013).

Furthermore, if a response to the connection request is not receivedfrom the cordless hand scanner 430 after predetermined time elapses,impossibility of establishment of the wireless link is displayed on thedisplay unit.

Also, if the Inquiry Response cannot be received within a predeterminedtime period after the Inquiry command is sent (NO at S5008) and if theInquiry Response is received from an opposite with which connectioncannot be made (NO at S5009), the process returns to S5006 to send theInquiry command again.

<Operation of Interface Between Main Part B and Hand Scanner>

First, the structure of a packet that is exchanged between the cordlesshand scanner 430 and the main part B will be described.

FIG. 51 shows the structure of the packet that is exchanged between thecordless hand scanner 430 and the main part B in this embodiment.

According to the specification of Bluetooth, one packet is divided intoan access code portion, a header portion and a payload portion, and theaccess code portion and header portions are used for Bluetoothcommunication, and the payload portion is used for the interfacecommand/response between the main part B and the hand scanner unit. Thepayload portion is further constituted by a Mail_ID portion, a MAILportion, a DATA_SIZE portion and DATA portion.

The MAIL_ID portion is used for managing matching of the interfacecommand/response such as the MAIL name and version information of theinterface command/response described later. In the MAIL portion arestored information (image number and color, effective time for waitingthe command/response, etc.) needed for a predetermined interfacecommand/response between the main part B and the hand scanner, anddetailed instructions (instructions of what, how, etc.) of thecommand/response.

The Data_Size portion is used for managing the size of the DATA portiondescribed later. For example, when there exists no DATA, NULL (Zero) isstored in the DATA_SIZE portion. DATA portion is used for storingtherein data (for example, image data) that is not included in the MAILportion.

FIG. 52 shows an example of a packet being an interface that does notinclude image data generated when the memory image in the cordless handscanner 430 is erased by the operation unit of the main part B.

In FIG. 52, Version is a management version of an interfacecommand/response, Pix_clear is MAIL_ID for an image deletion, Total_sizeis a total size of the payload portion, and Command indicates a requestcommand (request pairs up with command). Mail_size is an informationsize included in MAIL, No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 are management numbers ofthe images to be erased, which are designated from the operation in themain part B, and NULL is zero. The packet shown in FIG. 52 does notinclude image data, etc., and thus the DATA portion is zero.

FIG. 53 shows an example of a packet an example of a packet being aninterface including image data generated when image line data read fromthe hand scanner unit is transferred to the main part B in thisembodiment.

Version is a management version of an interface command/response,Line_up is MAIL_ID for an image data upload, Total_size is a total sizeof the payload portion, and Response indicates a response that is issuedon the basis of the request command. Also, Re_command is an instructionto the main part B in a case where there are some operation instructionsor error on the hand scanner, for example instructions of STOP, CANCEL,REPLAY, PAUSE, NULL and the like.

Mail_size is an information size included in MAIL, the imagenumber/image size/resolution/color/compression mode indicate informationof the image to be transferred, 1_Line_size is a data size of 1 line ofthe read image, and 1_Line_data is data of 1 line of the read image.

FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing a scanner interface initializationprocedure in this embodiment, and shows relationship between theprocesses of the cordless hand scanner 430 and the main part B, and soon.

(54-1) and (54-2) ensure that the interface command/response can beexchanged between the main part B and the hand scanner unit. Forexample, version information, etc. of the interface command/response isexchanged, thereby managing mutual matching.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the chart shown inFIG. 54.

At S5501, a connection request command (54-1) is sent to the cordlesshand scanner 430, and a connection confirmation response (54-2) isreceived from the cordless hand scanner 430 (S5502), and then the mainpart B ensures that the cordless hand scanner 430 has been connectednormally. At this time, whether or not the cordless hand scanner 430 ismounted on the main part B is determined, on the basis of the level of asignal that is inputted from the scanner interface connector 4323(S5503), and if the cordless scanner 430 is mounted on the main part B,a pre-scan request command (54-3) is sent to the cordless hand scanner430 (S5504).

When the cordless hand scanner 430 receives the pre-scan requestcommand, it performs a pre-scan operation. Specifically, it performslight adjustment to determine lighting time of a light source, andstores the determined lighting time of the light source and shading datain the first RAM 4302 (S5505). The result of performing the pre-scan issent back to the main part B as a pre-scan confirmation response (54-4).For this response, OK is written in MAIL if pre-scan could be performednormally, and NG is written in MAIL if failed in pre-scan, in command.

When the main part B receives the pre-scan confirmation response (54-4)(S5507), the hand scanner initialization procedure is completed. In caseof NG, pre-scan is performed again, and error processing is performed incase of three NGs in succession (S5508).

When the above described process is carried out, the inside of thecordless hand scanner 430, the inside of the main part B and the scannerinterface between the cordless hand scanner 430 and the main part B areinitialized, thus bringing about a situation in which various kinds ofoperations can be performed on the basis of instructions by the user.

Also, if the cordless hand scanner 430 is not mounted on the main part Bat S5503, a pre-scan confirmation command is sent from the main part Bto the cordless hand scanner 430 at S5509. When the cordless handscanner 430 receives the pre-scan confirmation command, it confirms thecontents of the first RAM 4302, and sends back to the main part B thepre-scan confirmation response (54-4) having MAIL with OK writtentherein if normal pre-scan is already performed and its data iscorrectly retained in the cordless hand scanner 430, while it send backto main part B the pre-scan confirmation response (54-4) having MAILwith NG written therein if pre-scan is not performed yet or data is notcorrectly retained (S5510).

The main part B ends the process (S5511) if receiving OK, while it warnsno scanner mounting described below to prompt the user to mount thecordless hand scanner 430 on the main part B for performing pre-scan(S5512).

A specific operation thereof will now be described using FIG. 56.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing the operation of warning no scannermounting in this embodiment.

Alarm display for prompting the user to mount the cordless hand scanner430 on the main part B is provided using the operation panel in mainpart 4324, and the cross point switch 4317 is set to rumble an alarmsound (S5601). Thereafter, the level of a signal to be inputted in thescanner interface connector 4323 is monitored, and when the cordlesshand scanner 430 is mounted on the main part B (S5602), alarm rumblingand alarm display are stopped (S5603) to complete the operation.

The process returns to FIG. 55, and when the operation of warning noscanner mounting is completed (S5512), the pre-scan request command(54-3) is sent back to the cordless hand scanner 430 as in the case ofthe above described operation of S5504. Subsequent operations are justsame as those described above.

Furthermore, as described with FIG. 49, the hand scanner unit B makestransition to the Park mode (the low power consumption standby statewhere the connection of Bluetooth remains established) if it does notreceive an effective command within 30 seconds.

<Operation During Sheet Copy>

FIG. 57 is an interface flowchart of sheet copy, and shows relationshipbetween the processes of the cordless hand scanner 430 and the main partB, and so on.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing an operation during sheet copy in thisembodiment.

When copy instructions are provided from the operation panel in mainpart 4324 (S5801), a sensor placed in the original inlet 4404 detectsexistence/not existence of original (S5802), and assumes a sheet copymode if the original exists. Whether or not the cordless hand scanner430 is mounted on the main part B is determined based on the level ofthe signal inputted from the scanner interface connector 4323 (S5803),and if the cordless hand scanner 430 is mounted on the main part B, aprocedure for transition to the Active mode is carried out (S5804) tomake transition of the cordless hand scanner 430 from the Park mode (lowpower consumption standby state) to the Active mode for establishing thewireless link.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transition of thecordless hand scanner 430 from the Park mode (low power consumptionstandby state) to the Active mode in this embodiment.

At S5901, the main part B sends an Unpark_req command being a requestfor transition to the Active mode to the cordless hand scanner 430. AnAccepted response being notification of completion of transition to theActive mode from the cordless hand scanner 430 is waited for apredetermined time period, and when the Accepted response is received(S5902), the transition of the cordless hand scanner 430 to the Activemode is confirmed (S5904), and the process is ended. Furthermore, if theAccepted response cannot be received within a predetermined time period(S5903), the process returns to S5901, where an Unpark_req command issent again.

Returning back to FIG. 58, the connection request command (57-1) is sentto the cordless hand scanner 430 (S5805) when the procedure fortransition to the Active mode is completed (S5804). When the connectionconfirmation response (57-2) from the cordless hand scanner 430 isreceived (S5806), a command of request of preparation of line read(57-3) is sent from the main part B to the cordless hand scanner 430(S5807).

At S5808, when a response of confirmation of preparation of line read(57-4) with OK/NG written in MAIL is received from the cordless handscanner 430 (S5808), the printer is prepared (S5809).

When printer preparation is completed, a read start command (57-5) issent to the cordless hand scanner 430 at S5810. Then, transportation ofthe original is started, image data is transferred from the cordlesshand scanner 430 to the main part B, and record data subjected tonecessary image processing is recorded by the printer 4325 in succession(S5811). The image data is stored in the DATA portion, an image datasize for one interface command/response is each stored in the DATA_SIZEportion. Also, instructions for operations are each time stored in theMAIL portion, and thus when a stop key is pressed in the main part B,for example, the instructions there of are stored in the MAIL portionand are sent to the hand scanner.

When transportation of all originals is completed, a command of requestof completion of line read (57-6) is sent to the cordless hand scanner430 at S5812. However, the above described command of completion of lineread may be stored in the MAIL portion of interface command/response, towhich the last record data is sent.

At S5813, when a response of confirmation of completion of line read(57-7) is received from the cordless hand scanner 430, the operation ofsheet copy is ended.

Furthermore, at S5803, if the cordless hand scanner 430 is not mountedon the main part B, the user is prompted to mount the cordless handscanner 430 on the main part B (S5814), but this operation has beendescribed with FIG. 56.

Also, at S5802, an operation of hand scanner memory copy is performed ifthere exits no original, but this operation will be described in detaillater.

<Operation During Sheet Transmission>

FIG. 60 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of performing facsimiletransmission of sheet originals by operation of the main part B.

The interface chart of this operation is identical to that in FIG. 57used with description of the operation of sheet copy.

The key of the operation panel in main part 4324 is used to select theopposite from the telephone directory stored in the SRAM 4313, and ifFAX transmission instructions are provided (S6001), a sensor (not shown)provided in the original inlet 4404 detects existence/not existence oforiginal (S6002), and a sheet transmission mode is assumed if thereexists a original. Whether or not the cordless hand scanner 430 ismounted on the main part B based on the level of the signal inputtedfrom the scanner interface connector 4323 is determined (S6003), and ifthe cordless hand scanner 430 is mounted on the main part B, a procedurefor transition to the Active mode is performed (S6004) to make thecordless hand scanner 430 in the Park mode (low power consumption state)to the Active mode for establishing the wireless link. The specificprocedure is same as that described using FIG. 59 in the section ofsheet copy.

When the procedure for transition to the Active mode is completed, theconnection request command (57-1) is sent to the cordless hand scanner430 (S6005). When the connection confirmation response (57-2) isreceived from the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6006), the command ofrequest of preparation of line read (57-3) is sent to the cordless handscanner 430 (S6007) from the main part B.

At S6008, when the response of confirmation of preparation of line read(57-4) with OK/NG written in MAIL is received from the cordless handscanner 430 (S6008), an origination operation is performed to connect tothe communication line (S6009). When connection to the communicationline is established, and a response is given from the opposite of FAXtransmission destination, the read start command (57-5) is sent to thecordless hand scanner 430 at S6010. Then, transportation of the originalis started, image data is transferred from the cordless hand scanner 430to the main part B, and the transferred image data is demodulated withthe facsimile modem 4316 before it is sent to the communication line(S6011). The method for transferring image data has been described inthe section of sheet copy.

When transportation of all originals is completed, the command ofrequest of completion of line read (57-6) is sent to the cordless handscanner 430 at S6012. However, the above described command of completionof line read may be stored in the MAIL portion of interfacecommand/response, to which the last record data is sent.

When the response of confirmation of completion of line read (57-7) isreceived from the cordless hand scanner 430 at S6013, the communicationline is disconnected (S6015), and the operation of facsimiletransmission of the sheet original is completed.

Furthermore, at S6003, if the cordless hand scanner 430 is not mountedon the main part B, the user is prompted to mount the cordless handscanner 430 on the main part B (S6015), but this operation is same asthat described with FIG. 56.

Also, at S6002, an operation of hand scanner memory transmission isperformed if there exists no original, but this operation will bedescribed in detail later.

<Operation During Hand Scanner Copy by Operation of Main Part B>

FIG. 61 shows an interface chart when the image read by the hand scanneris copied by the operation of the main part B in this embodiment,showing relationship between the processes of the cordless hand scanner430 and the main part B, and so on.

FIG. 62 is a flowchart illustrating the above described operation.

In the hand scanner operation panel 4307, when read start instructionsare provided (S6201), the image data read in accordance with movement ofthe scanner is compressed to JPEG image data and stored in the memory(S6202). This operation is continued in the hand scanner operation paneluntil read stop instructions are provided.

Then, when copy instructions are provided from the operation panel inmain part 4324 (S6203), a sensor (not shown) existing in the originalinlet 4404 detects existence/not existence of original (S6204), and ifthe original exists, the previously described sheet copy mode isassumed. If no original exists, it is assumed that the image data storedin the hand scanner is printed, and a process for transition to theActive mode is carried out (S6205) to make transition of the cordlesshand scanner 430 in the Park mode to the Active mode as described withFIG. 59, for establishing the wireless link to transfer the image datato the main part B.

When the procedure for transition to the Active mode is completed, aconnection request command (61-1) is sent to the cordless hand scanner430 (S6206). When a connection confirmation response (61-2) from thecordless hand scanner 430 is received (S6207), a hand scanner staterequest command (61-3) is sent to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6208)to receive the image information (monochrome/color, etc.) in the handscanner.

When a hand scanner state confirmation response (61-4) is received(S6209), an image transfer preparation request command (61-5) is sentfrom the main part B to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6210). When animage transfer preparation confirmation response (61-6) with OKINGwritten in MAIL is received from the cordless scanner 430 (S6211), theprinter is prepared (S6212).

When preparation of the printer is completed, an image transfer startrequest command (61-7) is sent to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6213).The image data that has been stored in the memory of the cordless handscanner 430 is stored in the DATA portion of the interface command. Inaddition, command data is transferred to the Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit, and is sent to the main part B via the 2.4 GHz highfrequency unit (S6214). The main part B that receives the image dataconverts the received image data into 360 dpi print data to performcolor printing (S6215).

When an image transfer completion confirmation command is received fromthe cordless hand scanner 430 to complete print of all the data, thecopy operation is completed.

When given time passes after the operation is completed, the cordlesshand scanner 430 sends a Park_req message to the main part B, and makestransition to the Park mode.

<Operation During Hand Scanner/Facsimile Transmission by Operation ofMain Part B>

FIG. 63 is a flowchart showing an operation of performing facsimiletransmission of the image read with the hand scanner by the operation ofthe main part B in this embodiment.

The interface chart of this operation is similar to that in FIG. 61.

In the hand scanner operation panel 4307, when read start instructionsare provided (S6301), the image data read in accordance with movement ofthe scanner is compressed to JPEG image data and stored in the memory(S6302). This operation is continued in the hand scanner operation paneluntil read stop instructions are provided.

Then, when a facsimile transmission operation is performed using atelephone directory button on the operation panel in main part 4324(S6303), existence/not existence of original is detected by a sensor(not shown) existing in the original inlet 4404 (S6304), and if theoriginal exists, the previously described sheet transmission mode isassumed. If no original exists, it is assumed that the image data storedin the hand scanner is subjected to facsimile transmission, and aprocess for transition to the Active mode is carried out (S6305) to maketransition of the cordless hand scanner 430 in the Park mode to theActive mode as described with FIG. 59, for establishing the wirelesslink to transfer the image data to the main part B.

When the procedure for transition to the Active mode is completed, theconnection request command (61-1) is sent to the cordless hand scanner430 (S6306). When the connection confirmation response (61-2) from thecordless hand scanner 430 is received (S6307), the hand scanner staterequest command (61-3) is sent to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6308)to receive the image information (monochrome/color, etc.) in the handscanner.

When a hand scanner state confirmation response (61-4) is received(S6309), the image transfer preparation request command (61-5) is sentfrom the main part B to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6310). When theimage transfer preparation confirmation response (61-6) with OK/NGwritten in MAIL is received from the cordless scanner 430 (S6311), theimage transfer start request command (61-7) is sent (S6312).

The hand scanner, which receives the image transfer start requestcommand, starts an operation of sending to the main part B the imagedata stored in the memory (S6313). The image data is stored in the DATAportion of an interface command/status. Specifically, JPEG compressionimage data stored in the memory is transferred to the Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit, and is sent to the main part B via the 2.4 GHz highfrequency unit.

In the main part B that receives the image data, the received image datais stored in the memory. When an image transfer completion confirmationresponse (61-9) is received (S6314) from the hand scanner, an operationof transmission to the partner defined by the telephone directory isperformed (S6315). When the response is received from the transmissionpartner, the image data stored in the memory is modulated by thefacsimile modem and sent to the communication line (S6316). When all theimage data is sent, the communication line is opened, and the operationis completed.

When given time passes after the operation is completed, the cordlesshand scanner 430 sends a Park_req message to the main part B, and makestransition to the Park mode.

<Operation During Hand Scanner Copy by Operation of Hand Scanner 430>

FIG. 64 shows an interface chart when the image read by the hand scanner430 is copied through the operation of the hand scanner 430, and showsrelationship among the process of the cordless hand scanner 430, theprocess of the main part B and the like.

FIG. 65 is a flowchart illustrating the above described operation.

FIG. 66 shows an operation of the above described operation and adisplay of the hand scanner 430.

In the operation panel 4307 of the hand scanner 430, when read startinstructions are provided (S6501), the image data read in accordancewith movement of the hand scanner 430 is compressed to JPEG image dataand stored in the memory (S6502). This operation is continued in theoperation panel 4307 of the hand scanner 430 until read stopinstructions are provided (S6503).

Then, when copy instructions are provided from the operation panel 4307of the hand scanner 430 (S6504), an access request message requestingtransition to the Active mode is sent to the main part B to establishthe wireless link for transferring the stored image data to the mainpart B (S6505). When a command of response of notification of transitionto the Active mode (UnPark message), the establishment of the wirelesslink is confirmed.

Subsequently, a connection request command (64-1) is sent from the mainpart B to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6507). The cordless handscanner 430 sends a connection confirmation response (64-2) to the mainpart B, and when the main part B receives this command and theconnection confirmation response (S6508), it sends to the cordless handscanner 430 a hand scanner state request command (64-3) for receivingimage information (monochrome/color, etc.) in the hand scanner 430(S6509). When the hand scanner state confirmation response (64-4) isreceived (S6510), an image transfer preparation request command (64-5)is sent from the main part B to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6511).

When an image transfer preparation confirmation response (64-6) withOKING written in MAIL is received from the cordless scanner 430 (S6512),the printer is prepared (S6513), and the hand scanner 430 starts anoperation of sending to the main part B the image data stored in thememory (S6514). The image data is stored in the DATA portion of aninterface command/status. Specifically, JPEG compression image datastored in the memory is transferred to the Bluetooth baseband processingunit 4309, and is sent to the main part B via the 2.4 GHz high frequencyunit. The main part B that receives the image data converts the receivedimage data into 360 dpi print data to perform color printing (S6515).When transfer of image data is completed, a transfer completion requestcommand (64-8) is sent from the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6516). Whenthis command is received (S6517) and print of all the data is completed,the copy operation is completed.

When given time passes after the operation is completed, the cordlesshand scanner 430 sends a Park_req message to the main part B, and makestransition to the Park mode. A series of operation theretofore issimilar to the operation shown in FIG. 66, for example.

In the above operation, the case is assumed where a copy instructionoperation is performed after the image is read by the hand scanner 430.However, the copy instruction operation may be performed before theimage is read. In this case, particularly, it is also possible to readimages while transferring the read images to the main part B and has theimages printed. Specifically, when the copy instruction operation isperformed by the hand scanner 430, the access request message requestingtransition to the Active mode is sent to the main part B. When thecommand of response of notification of transition to the Active mode(UnPark message) is received, the transition to the Active mode can beconfirmed. Subsequently, the image data transmission request command issent from the main part B.

When the hand scanner 430 receives an image data transmission permissioncommand from the main part B, it provides a display permitting the startof reading of images (display such as “Start reading”). When reading isstarted according to the read permission display, the read image data issubjected to JPEG compression and stored in the memory.

If the amount of image data stored in the memory reaches a certain levelor higher, the image data is transferred to the Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit 4309, and is sent to the main part B via the 2.4 GHzhigh frequency unit 4310. The main part B that receives the image dataconverts the resolution of the received image data, and print can bestarted.

When read by the hand scanner 430 is completed, and read completioncommand instructions are provided, the hand scanner 430 sends an imagedata transmission completion notification command to the main part B.The main part B transfers the image data that is received until theimage data transmission completion notification command to the printerunit to print the image data. When print of all the data is completed, aprint completion notification command is sent to the hand scanner 430.The hand scanner 430, which receives the print completion notificationcommand displays “Copy is completed” on the display unit, and the copyoperation in the hand scanner 430 is completed.

When given time passes after the operation is completed, the cordlesshand scanner 430 sends a Park_req message to the main part B, and makestransition to the Park mode.

Furthermore, image data that is newly read can be stored in the area ofthe memory 4302 in the hand scanner 430 storing the image data of whichtransmission has been completed. In this way, by performing read andtransmission of image data at a time, the memory amount can be reduced,and time for copy can be reduced as well.

<Operation During Hand Scanner/Facsimile Transmission by Operation ofHand Scanner 430>

FIG. 67 is a flowchart showing an operation of performing facsimiletransmission of the image read with the hand scanner 430 by theoperation of the hand scanner 430 in this embodiment.

The interface chart of this operation is similar to that in FIG. 64

FIGS. 68 and 69 show the operation and display representation of theabove described operation.

In the operation panel 4307 of the hand scanner 430, when read startinstructions are provided (S6701), the image data read in accordancewith movement of the hand scanner is compressed to JPEG image data andstored in the memory (S6702). This operation is continued in theoperation panel 4307 of the hand scanner 430 until read stopinstructions are provided (S6703).

Performing thereafter FAX transmission only by the operation of the handscanner 430 requires notification and designation of the telephonenumber of the partner to the main part B. Data of telephone number canbe sent to the main part B if it is stored in the DATA portion of theinterface command/status, but an operation of designating the numberitself by the hand scanner 430 occurs.

An operation of designating the FAX number of the transmissiondestination using the operation unit of the hand scanner 430 will now bedescribed using FIG. 68.

First, FAX transmission is selected from the function menu, and the useroptionally designates an image to be sent. Thereafter, the FAX number ofthe partner being a transmission destination is designated, as shown inFIG. 69. In this case, the cursor key is used to input the FAX numberdirectly. When image selection and the FAX number of the partner aredecided, transmission of Facsimile can be performed from the handscanner 430 at any time.

Then, when the send image and the FAX number of the partner are decidedusing the operation panel 4307 of the hand scanner 430 as describedabove, and a facsimile transmission operation is performed (S6704), theaccess request message requesting transition to the Active mode is sentto the main part B (S6705). When the command of response of notificationof transition to the Active mode (UnPark message) is received, theestablishment of the wireless link is confirmed (S6706). When theprocedure for transition to the Active mode is completed, the connectionrequest command (64-1) is sent to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6707).The cordless hand scanner 430 sends the connection confirmation responseto the main part B, along with the transmission instruction commandincluding instructions of facsimile transmission and the FAX number ofthe partner. When the main part B receives the transmission instructioncommand and the connection confirmation response (64-2) from thecordless hand scanner 430 (S6708), it sends to the hand scanner 430 thehand scanner state request command (64-3) for receiving imageinformation (monochrome/color, etc.) in the hand scanner 430 (S6709).

When the hand scanner 430 receives the above described hand scannerstate request command (64-3), it sends the hand scanner stateconfirmation response (64-4). When the main part B receives the abovedescribed hand scanner state confirmation response (64-4) (S6710), theimage transfer preparation request command (64-5) is sent from the mainpart B to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6711).

When the image transfer preparation response (64-6) with OK/NG writtenin MAIL is received from the cordless hand scanner 430 (S6712), an imagetransfer start request command (64-7) is sent (S6713).

The hand scanner 430 that receives the image transfer start requestcommand starts an operation of sending the image data stored in thememory to the main part B (S6714). The image data is stored in the DATAportion of the interface command/status. Specifically, the JPEGcompression data stored in the memory is transferred to the Bluetoothbaseband processing unit 4309, and is sent to the main part B via the2.4 GHz high frequency unit 4310.

In the main part B that receives the image data, the received image datais stored in the memory. When an image transfer completion confirmationresponse (64-9) is received from the hand scanner 430 (S6715), anoperation of transmission to the FAX number of the partner previouslyreceived from the cordless hand scanner 430 is performed (S6716). When aresponse is received from the transmission destination, the image datastored in the memory is modulated by the facsimile modem, and is sent tothe communication line (S6717). When all the image data is sent, thecommunication line is opened, and the operation is completed.

When given time passes after the operation is completed, the cordlesshand scanner 430 sends a Park_req message to the main part B, and makestransition to the Park mode.

For the above described operation, transmission of image data is startedby transmission instructions with the operation panel 4307 of the handscanner 430 after read of the image data by hand scanner 430 iscompleted. However, transmission instructions may be provided with theoperation panel 4307 of the hand scanner 430 before read by the handscanner 430 is started. In this case, particularly, it is also possibleto send the read image data to the opposite terminal while the image isread.

Specifically, when a facsimile transmission instruction operation isperformed in the hand scanner 430, the access request message requestingtransition to the Active mode is sent to the main part B. When thecommand of response of notification of transition to the Active mode(UnPark message) is received, the transition to the Active mode isconfirmed. When the hand scanner 430 confirms the transition to theActive mode, it sends to the main part B a transmission instructioncommand including instructions of facsimile transmission and the FAXnumber of the partner. The main part B sends back a response to thetransmission instruction command, and sends the image data transmissionrequest command to the cordless hand scanner 430. When the hand scanner430 receives the image data transmission permission command from themain part B, it provides a display permitting the start of reading ofimages (display such as “Start reading”). When reading is startedaccording to the read permission display, the read image data issubjected to JPEG compression and stored in the memory.

If the amount of image data stored in the memory reaches a certain levelor higher, the image data is transferred to the Bluetooth basebandprocessing unit 4309, and is sent to the main part B via the 2.4 GHzhigh frequency unit 4310.

The main part B that receives a certain amount or more of image datastores the image data in the memory, and performs transmission to thepreviously received FAX number of the transmission destination. When aresponse is given from the transmission destination, the image datastored in the memory is modulated by the facsimile modem, and is sent tothe communication line.

When the read by the hand scanner is completed, and read completioninstructions are provided, the hand scanner 430 sends the image datatransmission completion notification command to the main part B. Themain part B sends to the communication line the image data receivedbefore receiving the image data transmission completion notificationcommand, and then sends the transmission completion notification commandto the hand scanner 430 when transmission of all the data is completed.The hand scanner 430 that receives the transmission completionnotification command displays “Communication is completed” on thedisplay unit to complete the facsimile transmission operation.

When given time passes after the operation is completed, the cordlesshand scanner 430 sends a Park_req message to the main part B, and makestransition to the Park mode.

Furthermore, image data tat is newly read can be stored in the memoryarea storing therein the image data of which transmission from the handscanner 430 to the main part B has been completed. In this way, byperforming read and line transmission of image data at a time, thememory amount can be reduced, and time for copy can be reduced as well.

<Image Erase Operation of Hand Scanner by Operation of Main Part B>

FIG. 70 is a flowchart showing an operation of erasing memory images inthe hand scanner 430 by an operation of the main part B in thisembodiment.

FIG. 71 is an interface chart showing a relationship between theprocesses and the like in the cordless hand scanner 430 and the mainpart B in the above-described operation.

FIG. 72 shows an operation of the above described operation and adisplay of the hand scanner 430.

In the operation in the main part B, when image erase instructions areprovided (S7001), a procedure for transition to the Active mode iscarried out to make transition of the cordless hand scanner 430 in thePark mode to the Active mode for establishing a wireless link to eraseimage data in the hand scanner 430 as described using FIG. 59 (S7002).

When the procedure for transition to the Active mode is completed, aconnection request command (71-1) is sent to the cordless hand scanner430 (S7003). When a connection confirmation response (71-2) from thecordless hand scanner 430 is received (S7004), a hand scanner staterequest command (71-3) for confirming the state of the hand scanner 430is sent to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S7005).

When a hand scanner state confirmation response (71-4) is received(S7006), an image erasing request command (71-5) indicating instructionsto erase an image and information for identifying the image to be erasedis sent from the main part B to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S7007).When an image erasing confirmation response (71-6) with OK/NG written inMAIL is received from the cordless hand scanner 430 (S7008), the handscanner state request command (71-3) for confirming the result oferasing the image is sent to the cordless hand scanner 430 (S7009).

When the hand scanner state confirmation response (71-4) includinginformation indicating that erase of the designated image has beencompleted (S7010), completion of the image erase operation is confirmed.

When a given time passes after the operation is completed, the cordlesshand scanner 430 sends a Park_req message to the main part B, and makestransition to the Park mode.

<Operation at the Time of Dropping of Battery Voltage in Hand Scanner430>

FIG. 73 is a flowchart showing a battery voltage detecting operation inthe hand scanner 430 in this embodiment.

As described above, the cordless hand scanner 430 is driven by a battery4308 charged by the main part B. Therefore, if the voltage of thebattery 4308 drops, the cordless hand scanner 430 should be mounted onthe main part B for charging it. For this charge, in the cordless handscanner 430, by a task activated at an interval of 5 milliseconds, abattery voltage detecting circuit (not shown) reads the voltage of thebattery 4308, and if it is equal to or higher than a preset warningstart voltage (1.9 V in this embodiment) it is considered as normal(S7302), a warning flag is cleared, and a warning display of the LCD4601 on the scanner operation unit 4307 is cleared (S7303) to completethe operation.

If the voltage of the battery 4308 is equal to or lower than a warningstart voltage at S7302, the battery warning flag is set (S7304), and theoperation is temporarily stopped if the hand scanner 430 is underoperation (S7305). If the hand scanner 430 is not under operation atS7305, a warning display is provided on the LCD 4601 on the scanneroperation unit 4307 (S7306). At this time, the display is highlighted byflashing or reversing the display. Then, if the wireless interface withthe main part B is not in the Active state (S7307), the access requestmessage is sent (S7308) to make transition to the Active mode, and whenthe Unpark message from the main part B is received within apredetermined time period (S7309), a charge request message is inputtedin the payload portion of the response packet and is sent (S7311). Themain part B that receives the charge request message warns no scannermounting described with FIG. 56 (S7312). Thereby, an alarm rumbles fromthe speaker 4319 of the main part B as well, and thus the effect ofgiving an alarm to the user is increased.

Furthermore, the Unpark message from the main part B cannot be receivedwithin a predetermined time period (S7310), the process returns toS7308, where the access request message is sent again. Also, if thewireless interface with the main part B is in the Active state at S7307,the charge request message is sent immediately (S7311).

If the cordless hand scanner 430 is mounted on the main part B forchanging, a warning displayed on the LCD 4601 on the scanner operationunit 4307 may be cleared.

Also, in FIG. 56, when it is detected that the cordless hand scanner 430is mounted on the main part B for changing (S5602), a warning displayand alarm rumble are stopped, but instead of stopping the abovedescribed warning display and alarm rumble, an alarm indicating that itis being charged may be given. In this case, at the time when thebattery voltage exceeds the warning voltage (S7302) after the chargerequest message is sent from the cordless hand scanner 430 (S7312), thealarm indicating that it is being charged may be stopped.

Furthermore, the facsimile apparatus in this embodiment also performs areception operation, but since this operation is based on a knownprocess, description of thereof is omitted.

(Seventh Embodiment)

In the sixth embodiment, the wireless connection between the main part Band the hand scanner 430 is performed by exchanging the Inquiry commandduring initialization. That is, the inquiry command is exchanged,whereby the ID number can be exchanged among Bluetooth devices. However,in a usual facsimile apparatus, the main part B and the hand scanner 430are manufactured and sold as a set.

Therefore, the seventh embodiment is an embodiment in which the IDnumber of the cordless hand scanner 430 is stored in the nonvolatilememory of the main part B in advance, and conversely the ID number ofthe main part B is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the cordless handscanner 430 in advance, thereby making it possible to omit the exchangewith the Inquiry command.

In this case, the main part B designates the ID number of the cordlesshand scanner 430, and makes the wireless connection request using SerialPort Profile, based on the Bluetooth connection specification. When thecordless hand scanner 430 ensures that its ID number is included, itsends a wireless connection response signal, and the wireless link(Piconet) is established.

Furthermore, by storing the hopping sequence of the initializationsetting operation in the nonvolatile memory in advance, the wirelesslink can be established quickly.

Thereafter, it operates based on a procedure similar to the procedure inthe sixth embodiment.

(Eighth Embodiment)

In the sixth embodiment, transition to the Active mode is made when theoperation is started, and transition to the Park mode is made when theoperation is completed.

By the way, in the Park mode, power is also consumed because radio wavesare exchanged regularly.

Then, the eighth embodiment is an embodiment in which sending of theradio wave is fully stopped in the case where wireless datacommunication is not performed for long hours, thereby making itpossible to reduce power consumption.

Specifically, according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 74, acopy or facsimile transmission operation are completed (S7401), afterwhich a timer included in the first CPU 4300 or the second CPU 4311 isactivated (S7402), and if after a lapse of five minutes or more, nooperation requiring wireless data communication is performed (S7403 toS7404), then a Detach message is sent (S7405) to open Piconet to stopsending the radio wave, and a process is carried out so as to maketransition to the idle mode. In this case, when an operation of copy orfacsimile transmission is detected, Piconet is newly established asshown in S4805 and the following steps of FIG. 48 and S5005 and thefollowing steps of FIG. 50.

Furthermore, in FIG. 74, transition to the idle mode is made directlyafter the operation is completed, but as described in the firstembodiment, it is also possible to make transition to the Park modetemporarily and then make transition to the idle mode after apredetermined time period.

Also, if the send of the radio wave is stopped during a predefined timeframe such as nighttime, and Piconet is reestablished in the morning,power consumption can be reduced.

Also, in the above described embodiment, the Park mode has beendescribed as a low power consumption standby state, but powerconsumption can also be reduced similarly in the Hold mode or Sniffmode.

(Ninth Embodiment)

In the above described embodiment, in the case where the image read bythe hand scanner 430 is transmitted to the communication line, onlyfacsimile transmission is assumed.

This ninth embodiment is an embodiment in which the image read by thehand scanner 430 is converted into an electronic mail format to send thesame as an electronic mail in the case where the image read by the handscanner 430 is transmitted to the communication line. Also in this case,processes of timing of control of Bluetooth are identical to theprocesses in the above described respective embodiments.

As described above, according to the above sixth to ninth embodiments,since timing of the send of the radio wave is changed after a wirelessdata send/receive operation is completed, communication in the Piconetbetween the image communication apparatus and the portable scanner, etc.is curbed or stopped to curb the send of the radio wave or emit no radiowave when given time passes after the operation is completed, thusmaking it possible to reduce power consumption and use effectivelyfrequency resources, and reducing a possibility that interference occurswhen other terminals communicate.

Also, because the send/stop of the radio wave is switched depending ontime, quick wireless connection can be achieved when the possibility ofusing wireless communication is high, while power consumption can bereduced as much as possible when the possibility of using wirelesscommunication is low.

Also, because the mode of wireless communication can be changeddepending on predetermined operations of the portable scanner such asselection of copy operation or transmission operation, hand copy can beperformed by operating only the portable scanner even if the portablescanner exists at a location some distance from the image communicationapparatus, when hand copy is required in the portable scanner, andfacsimile transmission can be performed by operating only the portablescanner even if the portable scanner exists at a location some distancefrom the image communication apparatus, when facsimile transmission ofthe image read by the portable scanner is required, for example.

Furthermore, needless to say, a storage medium storing a program code ofsoftware achieving the function of the above described each embodimentis supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU and MPU)of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored inthe storage medium, whereby the object of the present invention isachieved.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage mediumachieves a new function of the present invention, and thus the storagemedium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

For storage media for supplying program codes, for example, floppydisks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs,magnetic tapes, nonvolatile memory cards, ROMs and the like may be used.Also, the program code may be supplied from the server computer via thecommunication network.

Also, needless to say, not only the case where the computer executes theread program code, whereby the function of the above described eachembodiment is achieved, but also the case where the OS or the likeoperating on the computer performs part or all of actual process basedon instructions of the program code, by which the function of the abovedescribed each embodiment is achieved is included.

Furthermore, needless to say, the case is also included where after theprogram code read from the storage medium is written in the memoryprovided in a feature expansion board inserted in the computer and afeature expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the likeprovided in the feature expansion board and the feature expansion unitperforms part or all of actual process based on instructions of theprogram code, by which the function of the above described eachembodiment is achieved.

As described above, according to the present invention, the mode ofwireless communication can be changed depending on a predeterminedoperation such as selection of copy operation or transmission operation.Thus, copy can be performed by operating only the scanner even if thescanner exists at a location some distance from the image communicationapparatus, when a process for copy is required in the scanner, andfacsimile transmission can be performed by operating only the scannereven if the scanner exists at a location some distance from the imagecommunication apparatus, when facsimile transmission of the image readby the scanner is required, for example.

Also, the low power consumption state is released in predeterminedtiming, thus making it possible to reduce power consumption.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system including a scanner and an imagecommunication apparatus that communicates with the scanner, and having afirst mode in which the image communication apparatus executes apredetermined process to an image scanned by the scanner, comprising:wireless communicating means for making a wireless connection betweenthe image communication apparatus and the scanner, and having an imagecommunication mode in which the image is communicated between the imagecommunication apparatus and the scanner and a low-power consumption modein which electrical power for communicating between the imagecommunication apparatus and the scanner is reduced; detecting means fordetecting a completion of the predetermined process during operation inthe first mode of the image communication apparatus; and mode changingmeans for changing a mode of said wireless communicating means from theimage communication mode to the low-power consumption mode, depending ona detection of said detecting means.
 2. The system according to claim 1,wherein said detecting means detects a completion of an imagecommunication between the image communication apparatus and the scanner.3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detectsa completion of printing of image data sent from the scanner to theimage communication apparatus, or a completion of transmission of theimage via a communication line connected to the image communicationapparatus.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detectingmeans further detects instructions for a process of stopping printing ofimage data sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus,or stopping transmission of the image via a communication line connectedto the image communication apparatus.
 5. The system according to claim1, wherein said detecting means further detects an arrival of apredetermined time zone.
 6. The system according to claim 1, whereinsaid mode changing means changes a mode in response to a request fromthe image communication apparatus to the scanner.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said mode changing means changes a mode inresponse to a request from the scanner to the image communicationapparatus.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said modechanging means stops a sending of radio waves by said wirelesscommunicating means after a predetermined time period elapses fromswitching to the low-power consumption mode.
 9. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said wireless communicating means establishes awireless link by an initial connection procedure, and wherein the lowpower consumption mode does not require the initial connection procedureat a time of establishing the wireless link again.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 9, wherein said mode changing means changes to a moderequiring the initial connection procedure at the time of establishingthe wireless link again after a predetermined time period elapses fromswitching to the low-power consumption mode.
 11. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said wireless communicating means establishes awireless link by an initial connection procedure when the low-powerconsumption mode is canceled and a wireless link between the imagecommunication apparatus and the scanner is established.
 12. An imagecommunication apparatus that is wirelessly connectable to a scanner andhas a first mode in which said image communication apparatus executes apredetermined process to an image scanned by the scanner, comprising:wireless communicating means for making a wireless connection to thescanner and having an image communication mode in which the image iscommunicated between said image communication apparatus and the scannerand a low-power consumption mode in which electrical power forcommunicating between said image communication apparatus and the scanneris reduced; detecting means for detecting a completion of thepredetermined process during operation in the first mode of said imagecommunication apparatus; and mode changing means for changing a mode ofsaid wireless communicating means from the image communication mode tothe low-power consumption mode, depending on a detection by saiddetecting means.
 13. The image communication apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein said detecting means detects a completion of an imagecommunication between said image communication apparatus and thescanner.
 14. The image communication apparatus according to claim 12,wherein said detecting means detects a completion of printing of imagedata sent from the scanner to said image communication apparatus, or acompletion of transmission of the image via a communication lineconnected to said image communication apparatus.
 15. The imagecommunication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detectingmeans further detects instructions for a process of stopping printing ofimage data sent from the scanner to said image communication apparatus,or a process for stopping transmission of the image via a communicationline connected to said image communication apparatus.
 16. The imagecommunication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detectingmeans further detects an arrival of a predetermined time zone.
 17. Theimage communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said modechanging means changes a mode in response to a request from said imagecommunication apparatus to the scanner.
 18. The image communicationapparatus according to claim 12, wherein said mode changing meanschanges a mode in response to a request from the scanner to said imagecommunication apparatus.
 19. The image communication apparatus accordingto claim 12, wherein said mode changing means stops a sending of radiowaves by said wireless communicating means after a predetermined timeperiod elapses from switching to the low-power consumption mode.
 20. Theimage communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein saidwireless communicating means establishes a wireless link by an initiialconnection procedure, and wherein the low-power consumption mode doesnot require the initial connection procedure at a time of establishingthe wireless link again.
 21. The image communication apparatus accordingto claim 20, wherein said mode changing means changes to a moderequiring the initial connection procedure at the time of establishingwireless link again, after a predetermined period elapses from switchingto the low-power consumption mode.
 22. The image communication apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein said wireless communicating meansestablishes a wireless link by an initial connection procedure when thelow-power consumption mode is canceled and a wireless link between saidimage communication apparatus and the scanner is established.
 23. Animage communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein saidwireless communicating means communicates based on a Bluetoothspecification, and the low-power consumption mode is one of a park mode,a sniff mode, and a hold mode defined by the Bluetooth specification.24. A method for controlling a system that includes a scanner and animage communication apparatus, which communicates with the scanner, thesystem having a first mode in which the image communication apparatusexecutes a predetermined process to an image scanned by the scanner,said method comprising: a detecting step of detecting a completion ofthe predetermined process during operation in the first mode of theimage communication apparatus; and a mode changing step of changing amode of wireless communicating means from an image communication mode toa low-power consumption mode, depending on a detection in said detectingstep, wherein the wireless communicating means makes a wirelessconnection between the image communication apparatus and the scanner,communicates the image between the image communication apparatus and thescanner in the image communication mode, and reduces electrical powerfor communication between the image communication apparatus and thescanner in the low-power consumption mode.
 25. A method for controllingan image communication apparatus that is wirelessly connectable to ascanner and that has a first mode in which the image communicationapparatus executes a predetermined process to an image scanned by thescanner, said method comprising: a detecting step of detecting acompletion of the predetermined process during operation in the firstmode of the image communication apparatus; and a mode changing step ofchanging a mode of wireless communicating means from an imagecommunication mode to a low-power consumption mode, depending on adetection in said detecting step, wherein the wireless communicatingmeans makes a wireless connection between the image communicationapparatus and the scanner, communicates the image between the imagecommunication apparatus and the scanner in the image communication mode,and reduces electrical power for communication between the imagecommunication apparatus and the scanner in the low-power consumptionmode.